The Iran-US conflict has entered a new and more intense phase as Gulf nations face direct and escalating pressure from Tehran to change their stance on hosting foreign military operations. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered this pressure via a post on X, warning Gulf governments that their security and development are directly threatened by their current alignment. The statement came as the war exceeded one month without any ceasefire agreement.
Countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman have been drawn into the conflict through American military bases from which strikes against Iran have been launched. Tehran has retaliated with attacks in those countries, dramatically escalating the conflict’s regional scope. Gulf governments are now facing direct Iranian pressure at a time when their populations are already living with the consequences of the war.
Pezeshkian was explicit: Iran does not engage in preemptive military action but will always retaliate for attacks on its economic or infrastructure assets. He warned Gulf governments that they have crossed the line from neutral observers to active participants by allowing foreign forces to conduct war operations from their land. His pressure on Gulf leaders reflects Iran’s growing impatience with the regional status quo.
Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement has been growing in importance. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed after speaking with Pezeshkian that trust is the essential precondition for any peace negotiations. Pakistan’s foreign ministry has organized a significant multilateral meeting in Islamabad with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey to discuss de-escalation strategies and peace pathways.
Pakistan’s Ishaq Dar will chair the talks and also meet with Prime Minister Sharif. Tehran has praised Islamabad’s role as a credible and constructive mediator. The new phase of the conflict, characterized by direct pressure on Gulf states and accelerating diplomacy through Pakistan, may determine how quickly the region can move toward a ceasefire.