Pezeshkian Warns Gulf States Against US-Israel Push, Makes ‘Muslim Brotherhood’ Appeal

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has accused the United States and Israel of trying to turn Persian Gulf nations against Tehran, while urging Muslim countries to remain united as the conflict continues to strain the region.

Speaking to Iranian state television on Friday, Pezeshkian said Washington and Tel Aviv were also seeking to exploit Iran’s internal challenges amid the broader conflict.

“Israel and the United States are attempting to turn the Persian Gulf nations against us. We’re working to prevent this. Of course, we face internal challenges as well, due to varying perspectives. And naturally, America and Israel are exploiting this situation,” he said.

In an apparent outreach to neighbouring Gulf nations, Pezeshkian stressed that sectarian differences between Shia and Sunni Muslims should not become a source of division.

“My conviction, as I’ve stated before—and I don’t say this just for show—is that all Muslims are brothers,” he said, invoking Islamic teachings on unity.

“Brotherhood means that all Muslims, whether Shia or Sunni, are united. Every Muslim is a brother,” Pezeshkian added.

The comments come as Iran faces mounting regional pressure, with the conflict affecting relations with neighbouring states and raising concerns over shipping through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

Pezeshkian also pointed to the rivalry between the United States and China while arguing that nations must know when to confront their adversaries and when to focus on their own interests.

“To survive, we must know what we are doing: when to fight, when to make peace, and when to simply mind our own business while they mind theirs,” he said.

He asked why Washington and Beijing, despite being fierce rivals, do not engage in direct conflict.

“China is America’s greatest rival, yet why don’t they fight? China focuses on its own work and grows stronger every day,” he said.

On the issue of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, Pezeshkian defended Iran’s actions against vessels that Tehran says violated its regulations.

“In certain parts of the strait, they claim we didn’t comply, so we took action. In the strait, we initiated military confrontations with ships that had violated regulations,” he said.

Pezeshkian rejected accusations that Iran had failed to honour its commitments and said Tehran would continue to defend the memorandum it had signed.

The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical pressure point, with any disruption to commercial shipping through the narrow waterway carrying significant consequences for regional and global trade.

Pezeshkian also rejected any suggestion that Iran had surrendered and vowed that Tehran would continue to fight if forced into submission.

“Some keep insisting on war—which is exactly what Israel wants. If they try to force us into submission, we will fight. We will not back down, and we will not bow our heads,” he added.

At the same time, the Iranian president suggested that Tehran would not seek to prolong the conflict once its objectives and rights had been secured.

“But when we can secure our rights, why should we continue the conflict? That is what Israel wants,” he said.

Pezeshkian also dismissed reports of tensions between his government and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), insisting that the country’s leadership remains united.

“There is no rift between the government and the armed forces. Iran is united and cohesive, and sowing division is what the country’s enemies want,” he said.

“Our fighters amazed the world,” Pezeshkian added, as he sought to project unity within Iran amid the continuing conflict.