Iran's Mojtaba Khamenei urges Gulf nations to unite against US and Israel

Written address to Islamic nations

Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei published a written message on his Telegram channel on 30 August 2026 for Islamic Unity Week, which marks the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. Released six months after the outbreak of the regional conflict, the statement called on Islamic countries and West Asian governments to build common defence and economic cooperation against shared adversaries. Khamenei identified the United States and Israel as the primary opponents of all regional nations rather than Iran alone, stating that division within the Muslim community serves adversarial objectives.

The solution to the problems of the Ummah lies in unity of word, friendship and cooperation on the path of goodness.

Appeals to Gulf monarchies

The message directly addressed Gulf Arab rulers, asking whether outside powers would covet their territories if regional states remained united under the flag of Islam. Khamenei also questioned whether Palestinians would have faced severe hardship had the Muslim world maintained collective unity. The appeal follows tensions dating back to the 1979 Islamic Revolution, after which Gulf monarchies regarded Iranian revolutionary ideology as a threat to their political systems.

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.

Regional frictions have persisted throughout the active conflict, during which Iranian forces have targeted United States military installations and infrastructure across allied countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain.

Leadership and domestic directives

Mojtaba Khamenei assumed Iran's highest office after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed on 28 February 2026 during opening joint airstrikes by the United States and Israel. Mojtaba Khamenei suffered injuries during the same strikes and has not made an in-person public appearance, video address, or voice recording in the six months since taking power.

The unity message follows a domestic statement released on 28 August 2026, in which the leader instructed Iranian officials and the public to maintain internal cohesion. Khamenei declared that actions harming domestic unity were forbidden, ordering authorities to refrain from statements that reduce public morale.

Economic policy amid sanctions

In his economic directives on 28 August, Khamenei instructed Iranian economic managers to pursue the progressive de-dollarization of the national economy. The policy prioritizes domestic production to rebuild industrial output following months of an American naval blockade and longstanding economic sanctions. The economic appeal followed an announcement by the United States on 24 August 2026 detailing a tightening of international sanctions against Tehran.

Whoever, in whatever position, does anything that leads to division among Muslims and creates conflicts within the Muslim community, knowingly or not, voluntarily or involuntarily, has served the goals of the enemies of Islam.