Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has told Gulf nations bluntly that the price of hosting Iran’s enemies is paid directly in their own security. His statement on X, issued over a month into the Iran-US conflict, made the consequences of Gulf governments’ choices as concrete and immediate as possible. Pezeshkian addressed Gulf leaders directly, arguing that their current strategic alignment is costing them far more than they may realize.
Gulf countries including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Kuwait, and Qatar have found their territory embedded in the conflict through US military installations that have been used to strike Iran. Tehran has retaliated with attacks inside those countries, making Gulf security a direct casualty of the war. The cost being paid in Gulf security is now visible and tangible for populations across the region.
Pezeshkian confirmed that Iran does not conduct preemptive strikes and only retaliates when its economic or infrastructure assets are targeted. He made the price-security connection explicit: hosting Iran’s enemies means paying for that choice with your own security. His message was designed to make the cost-benefit calculation for Gulf governments unmistakably clear.
Pakistan’s mediation has been recognized and praised by Tehran. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that Pezeshkian told him trust is the essential foundation for any peace negotiations to begin. Pakistan has organized a multilateral ministerial meeting in Islamabad with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey to explore de-escalation pathways.
Pakistan’s Ishaq Dar will lead the discussions and arrange meetings with Prime Minister Sharif. Iran has expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s role as a genuine peace broker. The Islamabad meetings offer the most concrete opportunity yet to begin building the trust that Pezeshkian says is essential for ending the conflict.