Building Trust Requires Mutual Action: Iran Warns Gulf Neighbours Over US Bases
Iran says trust with Gulf neighbours can only be rebuilt if they stop allowing US military forces to launch attacks from their soil.
In a pointed response to regional critics, Iran has asserted that the erosion of trust between Tehran and its Gulf neighbours is not a result of Iranian tactics, but rather a consequence of regional states allowing their territories to be used as launchpads for US military aggression. The Iranian Foreign Ministry has called for a fundamental shift in approach if sustainable peace is to be achieved in the region.
The Dispute Over Regional Trust
The statement came from Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei, who was reacting to claims made by an advisor to the President of the United Arab Emirates. While the advisor suggested that trust in Iran had been destroyed, Baghaei firmly denied that Tehran had engaged in any actions intended to distort diplomatic confidence.
"Iran did not destroy or distort trust," Baghaei stated during a press briefing, suggesting that other nations are the ones employing tactics that undermine stability. He argued that trust could be restored, provided that neighbouring countries decide to abandon the "wrong approaches of the past."
Sovereignty and the US Military Presence
Baghaei directly linked the friction of the last eight months to the presence of US military forces within the Gulf states. He argued that the reliance of some regional countries on the US military has led to a dangerous situation where Iranian sovereignty is compromised.
The spokesperson highlighted two critical points regarding this military presence:
- Encouragement of Attacks: Baghaei claimed that some countries did not merely fail to prevent the US from using their facilities to attack Iran, but actively encouraged such actions.
- The Right to Defend: He emphasised that Iran cannot remain silent when its national sovereignty and people are encroached upon by attacks launched from neighbouring soil.
A Path Toward Peaceful Coexistence
Despite the stern warning, Tehran reiterated its commitment to a policy of peaceful coexistence. Baghaei maintained that Iran holds no enmity toward any country in the region and believes that sustainable security can only be built through mutual cooperation.
However, he noted that this cooperation comes with a "reasonable expectation": that regional countries must ensure their facilities are not misused to attack a large neighbouring state like Iran.
"Building trust requires mutual action and mobilisation,"Baghaei emphasised, calling for a shared responsibility to end hostility.
Warning Against US 'Deception Operations'
Beyond its immediate neighbours, Iran also addressed the current political climate in the United States. Baghaei pointed out the contradictory signals coming from Washington, noting the contrast between the hardline rhetoric of President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and the softer diplomatic tone of Vice President JD Vance.
Drawing on historical experiences, Baghaei warned that Iran would not fall for "deception operations." He recalled a specific instance from June 13 (1404), where the US President tweeted that negotiations were ongoing just thirty minutes before launching military aggression.
Referencing the experiences of 2015 and 2018, the spokesperson asserted that Iran is approaching current US interactions with extreme caution, viewing the conflicting messages from the US administration as a reflection of domestic dissatisfaction within the American ruling structure.