Iran is maintaining military pressure on Gulf nations while simultaneously embracing Pakistan’s diplomatic push to end the conflict with the United States. President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed both dimensions this week: his post on X warned Gulf governments about the consequences of hosting enemy forces, while his conversation with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the importance of trust in building toward peace. The dual approach reflects Iran’s current strategic posture.
Gulf countries including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman have been pulled into the war through US military bases that have launched strikes against Iran. Tehran has retaliated with its own strikes inside those countries, creating a cycle of escalation that has made the entire Gulf region a zone of active conflict. Gulf governments are now under intense pressure from both Washington and Tehran.
Pezeshkian reaffirmed that Iran does not engage in preemptive attacks but will respond decisively to strikes on its economic or infrastructure assets. He urged Gulf leaders to remove foreign military operations from their lands, warning that hosting the enemy makes them targets. At the same time, he praised Pakistan’s mediation efforts and acknowledged the importance of the diplomatic process.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Sharif confirmed that Pezeshkian views trust as the prerequisite for any formal peace negotiations. Pakistan has organized a significant multilateral ministerial meeting in Islamabad with foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey to deliberate on de-escalation strategies. Iran has expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s role as a credible and constructive peace broker.
Pakistan’s Ishaq Dar will lead the talks and facilitate meetings with Prime Minister Sharif. The combination of Iran’s firm military stance and its embrace of Pakistan’s diplomacy suggests a country seeking a negotiated exit from the conflict on its own terms. The Islamabad meetings will be closely watched as the most important test yet of regional diplomacy.