Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has presented Gulf nations with what amounts to an ultimatum, carefully wrapped in the language of diplomacy and shared regional interest. His message, issued more than a month into the Iran-US war, tells Gulf governments that their security and development are contingent on their decision to stop hosting enemy military operations. Tehran has chosen a diplomatic vehicle for what is essentially a strategic demand.
Gulf countries including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman have been caught in the war’s crossfire through their hosting of US military infrastructure. American strikes on Iran launched from these nations have triggered Iranian retaliatory attacks on the same countries. The resulting damage has placed Gulf governments in an increasingly untenable position.
In a post on X, Pezeshkian laid out Iran’s military doctrine: no preemptive strikes, but certain and powerful retaliation for any attack on Iranian infrastructure or economic assets. He then presented Gulf leaders with his core demand, framed as advice: deny enemy forces the use of your territory if you want development and security. The diplomatic packaging did not obscure the ultimatum at the heart of the message.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has been one of the most active mediators in the conflict, engaging Iranian leadership and other regional parties with consistency and skill. His meeting with Pezeshkian produced the key finding that Iran sees trust as the foundation for any meaningful peace process. Pakistan’s role has been praised by Tehran, enhancing Islamabad’s standing as a trusted neutral actor.
A critical multilateral meeting in Pakistan is drawing together foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey. Their discussions with Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Prime Minister Sharif are focused on coordinating a regional response to the conflict. The talks represent one of the most important diplomatic opportunities of the war so far.