President Masoud Pezeshkian Warns Regional Neighbors Against Hosting ‘Enemy’ Military Operations Amid Expanding Conflict

Iranian President Pezeshkian urges regional nations to deny territory for 'enemy' military operations to ensure development and security amid ongoing war.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 28, 2026, 1:03 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Anadolu Agency

A Plea for Regional Neutrality

In a direct appeal to the governments of the Middle East, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has characterized the hosting of foreign military assets as a fundamental threat to regional stability. Writing on the social media platform X, the President urged neighboring countries to ensure that "enemies" do not "run the war" from their sovereign lands. This message appears to be aimed at Gulf nations and other regional partners that host U.S. military bases, suggesting that their continued cooperation with Western forces is inherently incompatible with the goals of regional development and economic security.

The Doctrine of Retaliation

President Pezeshkian used the address to reiterate Iran’s long-standing military doctrine, asserting that the Islamic Republic does not engage in preemptive strikes. However, he warned of a devastating response should Iranian national infrastructure or economic centers be targeted further. This stance follows a month of intense aerial bombardments by U.S. and Israeli forces, which have significantly degraded various sectors of the Iranian state. By publicly defining these "red lines," Pezeshkian is attempting to deter further escalation while signaling to the domestic population that the administration remains committed to defending the nation’s core assets.

Escalation Since the February Offensive

The current regional war was triggered on February 28, 2026, by a massive joint operation that resulted in the deaths of over 1,340 people. Most notably, the strikes claimed the life of then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a development that has fundamentally reshaped the Iranian political and military landscape. Since that initial salvo, the conflict has evolved from a localized operation into a broader regional confrontation. Iran has responded with a series of drone and missile attacks, specifically targeting Israeli territory and Gulf countries that facilitate U.S. military logistics and air operations.