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THE illegal and ill-advised US and Israeli war in Iran has apparently led to a major rethink in Arab capitals as they examine the post-ceasefire scenario. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian gave the first public hint of a new, embryonic security architecture emerging for West Asia and the Middle East during his recent state visit to Pakistan.
Calling for a ‘united front’ of Muslim nations, he elaborated on extending a “hand of friendship” and a new regional security structure. His statement follows a series of diplomatic moves and countermoves after the war in Iran left a security vacuum in the region, particularly in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.
The political and military dynamic in the region is moving at its own pace, separate from the sporadic and fractious negotiations between the US and Iran, taking shape in the form of quiet discussions between regional players. A regional security architecture comprising Pakistan, Iran, Turkiye, the GCC, and Egypt, perhaps later extending to Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Jordan and others, would be a historic paradigm shift in the geopolitical landscape.
The thaw in relations between Iran and the Gulf Arab states comes after decades of mutual hostility, but it is clear that Saudi Arabia has paved the way for the warming ties. Iran repeatedly struck US bases across the region, wholly or partially destroying major facilities, as well as damaging civilian infrastructure, but maintained it was responding to military attacks launched from US bases in the GCC countries.
A new regional security architecture may be in the offing.
The US has not revealed the extent of the damage to radars, communications hubs, aircraft and other key facilities, but it was soon evident that US forces, that had established a foothold in the region after the 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, were now acting as lightning rods drawing Iranian drone and missile fire, instead of being a security shield. And the US supplied Israel with substantial air defence missiles, perhaps leading to resentment from the GCC that they were left partially unprotected.
Political concerns are also heightened and have led to the establishment of the R4 (Regional 4) in the early days of the war, comprising Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The group has already met four times, indicating urgency and commitment.
Pakistan has been the epicentre of the regional push for a ceasefire between Iran and the US and appears to have assumed a quiet role in reshaping the post-war regional order. In addition to extensive diplomatic outreach, there were also two unique visits by military leaders to Pakistan just days before the formal signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.
On June 9, Gen Rodolphe Haykal, Commander of Lebanon’s Armed Forces met Field Marshal Asim Munir, followed two days later by Gen Metin Tokel, Commander of Turkiye’s Land Forces. Field Marshal Munir also visited Iran at least twice during the war, meeting the political leadership and the Iranian military high command.
But it has been growing anger at Israel’s continuing savagery in Gaza and the West Bank, the invasion of Lebanon, its threats to other countries, and the relentless pushing of its ideological imperative of establishing Greater Israel that has forced the Gulf States, Turkiye and other nations in the Middle East to accept that Israel is actively undermining regional stability.
It is clear the US can no longer contain or control Israel. And President Donald Trump’s bizarre attempt to link peace negotiations with Arab countries signing the Abraham Accords likely tipped the balance and forced Arab countries to reassess their position.
A new regional security bloc would likely meet fierce resistance from the US, Europe, Israel and India. But it is clear that if any effort is going to be made to finally create a Muslim bloc with teeth, unlike the somewhat hapless Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the time is now.
Pakistan already has signed a bilateral defence pact with Saudi Arabia. A critical component of any future regional pact would have to be underpinned by trust. The powerful bond between Iran and Pakistan and Islamabad’s steady ties with the GCC could well help break down decades of hostility towards Tehran which has emerged as a powerful actor despite the savage two wars it has faced within the span of nine months.
A collective regional security pact would finally address the rogue state of Israel that has consistently been the root of instability, war and economic crises. Its crimes against humanity in Gaza and the West Bank have been tolerated for too long. At the end of the day, the question of Palestine will always determine the future of the Middle East and West Asia.
The writer is a former AFP bureau chief who hosts her own podcast.
Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2026
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