Khamenei calls on Gulf states to unite against shared 'real enemy'

Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has issued a public appeal to rulers across the Persian Gulf, urging them to set aside regional rivalries and instead confront what he described as their shared, real enemy. The remarks come as tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most strategically significant maritime passages, continue without resolution.

Restrictions remain in place

Iran has kept restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which a substantial share of global oil exports passes. The continued limitations have raised concern both among neighbouring states and within the wider international community, given the potential impact any disruption in the strait could have on global energy markets.

Diplomacy at a standstill

Efforts to reach a diplomatic solution that would ease the standoff have so far failed to produce results. Talks involving the parties concerned have not led to an agreement that would restore normal shipping conditions through the strait or reduce broader regional tension.

Khamenei's statement is being read as an attempt to rally neighbouring Gulf states around a common cause rather than allow disputes between them to deepen. The message comes as countries in the region watch developments cautiously, mindful of both the economic and security risks posed by prolonged uncertainty around one of the world's key shipping routes.