Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has exposed what he describes as a fundamental contradiction in Gulf security policy, arguing that nations cannot simultaneously host enemy military operations and expect to enjoy security and development. His message, delivered more than a month into the Iran-US war, is both a diplomatic intervention and a critique of the Gulf’s existing security model. Tehran is clearly seeking to use the contradictions inherent in Gulf security arrangements as a lever for political pressure.
Gulf nations including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman have built their security around extensive partnerships with the United States, which has large military installations in each of these countries. These installations have been used to attack Iran, which has responded with retaliatory strikes against those same host nations. The result is that Gulf countries are experiencing insecurity precisely because of the security arrangements they have entered into.
In a post on X, Pezeshkian laid out Iran’s military doctrine clearly while exposing this contradiction in Gulf policy. He argued that allowing enemies to use Gulf territory for military operations against Iran was not a security strategy but a recipe for ongoing instability. His appeal to Gulf leaders was framed in terms of basic logic: genuine security requires denying enemies the ability to wage war from your soil.
Pakistan’s diplomatic initiative has been one of the most credible and sustained in the region, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif maintaining active engagement with all key parties. Sharif’s meeting with Pezeshkian confirmed that Iran views trust as the essential foundation for any formal peace negotiations. Pakistan’s contributions have been publicly praised by Tehran.
A critical multilateral diplomatic gathering in Pakistan is bringing together the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey for focused discussions on the conflict. Their meetings with Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Prime Minister Sharif aim to produce a unified regional response to the war. The talks represent a significant diplomatic opportunity that could help change the course of the conflict.