Although Iran has continued launching missiles and drones against Gulf states, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has adopted a more restrained tone since the Israel–U.S. military campaign began—stating that Tehran does not seek direct conflict with its neighbors.
Diplomatic Outreach and Defense Posture
Pezeshkian recently held a telephone conversation with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss regional developments in the Middle East. During the call, the Iranian president emphasized that defending Iranian territory is a legitimate right—and warned that any U.S. military bases used to launch attacks against Iran would become targets under international law governing self-defense.
He accused Israel and the United States of deliberately striking civilian infrastructure—including government buildings, public spaces, hospitals, and schools—citing the deadly bombing of a girls’ school in the southern city of Minab, which killed 168 students.
Pezeshkian also alleged that attackers had abused the airspace of neighboring countries to carry out strikes against Iran, reinforcing Tehran’s stance that any foreign base facilitating such operations would be considered a lawful target.
Call for Diplomacy and Warnings on Global Security
The Iranian president said his country is engaged in “serious negotiations” to resolve outstanding issues. He cautioned that the failure of international organizations to address the root causes of the conflict could undermine global security.
In response, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attacks and expressed condolences over the death of Iran’s former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He voiced solidarity with Tehran and congratulated Mojtaba Khamenei on his election as Iran’s new supreme leader.
Both leaders underscored the importance of expanding bilateral ties and continuing diplomatic consultations aimed at ending the war.