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Date: August 30, 2026
Reporter: Kim White
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has called on Muslim countries, particularly the Arab states of the Gulf, to unite against what he described as their “real enemy,” warning that divisions among Muslim nations serve the interests of their adversaries.
Khamenei made the appeal in a written message released for Islamic Unity Week, an annual observance marking the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. The statement called for greater unity among Muslim countries, increased cooperation across different fields and mutual defence against external threats.
“My emphatic and repeated recommendation to the rulers of Islamic countries, especially the countries of West Asia and the Gulf, is to identify your real enemy, understand his plan and confront it,” Khamenei said in the message.
The Iranian leader specifically addressed the rulers of Gulf Arab states, asking whether foreign powers would have been able to threaten their territories and resources if the peoples and governments of the Gulf had been united under Islam. His comments come at a particularly sensitive moment in relations between Iran and the Gulf monarchies, which have historically viewed Tehran’s revolutionary ideology and regional influence as a threat to their political systems.
Khamenei also pointed to the plight of Palestinians, asking whether Palestinians would have been left in such a vulnerable position if Muslim countries had been united. His comments appeared designed to reinforce Tehran’s longstanding argument that divisions within the Muslim world have enabled outside powers to exert influence across the Middle East.
The message represents Khamenei’s first major public communication since he was seriously wounded in U.S.-Israeli airstrikes six months ago. Those strikes killed his father and predecessor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and resulted in Mojtaba Khamenei becoming Iran’s supreme leader during the subsequent war.
His prolonged absence from public view has generated considerable speculation about his health and his ability to exercise authority. Iranian officials have repeatedly maintained that he remains involved in major decisions and continues to direct the country’s leadership from a secure location.
Khamenei’s latest written statement comes only days after he urged Iranians to preserve social cohesion and avoid rhetoric that could weaken public morale. In that earlier message, he instructed authorities to prevent actions that could deepen divisions inside the country as Iran continues to face the consequences of war, economic pressure and international sanctions.
The latest appeal to Gulf rulers comes against the backdrop of Iran’s increasingly tense relationship with its neighbours. Since the conflict began, Tehran has launched attacks against U.S. military facilities and other infrastructure in Gulf states, heightening fears among regional governments that the conflict could spread further.
The Gulf monarchies have traditionally attempted to balance their relationships with Iran, the United States and other major international powers. Countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman have significant economic and security interests that could be affected by continued confrontation between Tehran and Washington.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most important sources of tension. Before the current conflict, the strategic waterway carried approximately one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. Much of that maritime traffic has been disrupted since the war began, creating concerns about energy supplies, shipping costs and the wider global economy.
Iran has maintained that it controls access through the waterway, while the United States has said that its forces have cleared mines and that the strait is open. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has rejected Washington’s claims and insisted that ships cannot safely pass without Iranian permission.
Iran and Oman have meanwhile been discussing arrangements for a temporary shipping corridor through the strait. Iranian officials have said that any reopening could depend on conditions including an end to the regional war, the lifting of what Tehran describes as a U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, compensation and the removal of economic sanctions.
The diplomatic discussions have added another dimension to Khamenei’s appeal for Muslim unity. Oman has traditionally maintained close diplomatic channels with both Iran and Western countries and has played an important role in previous efforts to mediate between Tehran and Washington.
Qatar and Pakistan have also attempted to facilitate renewed diplomatic engagement between Iran and the United States. Despite those efforts, negotiations remain stalled, while Washington has continued to intensify economic pressure on Tehran.
The United States has warned countries and companies that continue doing business with Iran that they could face secondary sanctions. Washington has already imposed new measures against entities accused of maintaining economic links with Tehran, increasing pressure on Iran’s already weakened economy.
Iran is facing severe economic difficulties as a result of the war and sanctions. President Masoud Pezeshkian has said foreign trade has fallen sharply, while annual inflation has reached extremely high levels. Iranian officials have acknowledged the pressure on households and businesses and have called for measures to control prices, create employment and strengthen domestic production.
Against this backdrop, Khamenei’s call for unity serves both a regional and domestic purpose. By urging Muslim countries to confront what he calls their “real enemy,” the supreme leader is reinforcing Iran’s longstanding political message that Western intervention and influence remain the central threat to the Muslim world.
The appeal also reflects Tehran’s desire to prevent further isolation as the war continues. Iran needs neighbouring Gulf states to avoid becoming directly involved in the conflict while also seeking diplomatic and economic channels that could help ease the pressure created by sanctions and restrictions on oil exports.
The Gulf states, however, face their own security concerns. Many depend heavily on stable international trade and energy markets, and a prolonged confrontation involving Iran could threaten infrastructure, shipping routes and economic activity across the region.
The continuing war has already demonstrated how quickly a conflict involving Iran can affect countries far beyond its borders. Disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz have pushed energy markets into uncertainty, while the possibility of further attacks on Gulf infrastructure remains a major concern for governments and businesses.
Khamenei’s latest message therefore arrives at a critical moment for the Middle East. His call for Muslim unity is unlikely to erase the longstanding strategic differences between Iran and the Gulf monarchies, but it signals Tehran’s determination to encourage regional governments to resist closer alignment with Washington.
For Iran, the message also reinforces the leadership’s argument that the country must maintain both diplomatic engagement and military preparedness. Tehran has repeatedly described diplomacy and defence as complementary elements of its national strategy, even as negotiations with the United States remain unresolved.
As the conflict enters its sixth month, Khamenei’s appeal highlights the widening struggle over the political future of the Middle East. Iran is seeking greater regional unity against Western pressure, Gulf governments are attempting to protect their territories and economies, and the United States continues to pursue sanctions and strategic pressure against Tehran.
With the Strait of Hormuz still at the centre of the confrontation and diplomatic efforts showing only limited progress, the Iranian supreme leader’s call for Muslim countries to identify and confront what he considers the “real enemy” is likely to further shape the political debate across the Gulf and the wider Middle East.