Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei urged Muslim countries, particularly those in the Gulf, to unite against what he termed their "real enemy" and stated that divisions among Muslims serve the interests of their adversaries. The message was shared on Khamenei’s Telegram account in observance of Islamic Unity Week, which commemorates the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad.
Khamenei's message emphasized the need for Muslim unity, cooperation in various fields, and mutual defense. He stated that anyone who creates divisions among Muslims, whether knowingly or unknowingly, aids Islam’s enemies. He questioned whether Palestinians would have been left "so helpless" if Muslims had been united.
Khamenei has not appeared in public since being injured in US-Israeli airstrikes six months ago, which initiated the Iran war and resulted in the death of his father, former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. His call for unity parallels a statement made on Friday to Iranians, where he banned actions that harm social cohesion and urged authorities to avoid "discouraging statements" that could weaken national and public morale.
He specifically addressed Gulf Arab rulers, asking whether "rogues without identity" would have dared to covet their lands and possessions if the peoples and governments of the Gulf had been "united under the flag of Islam." Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Gulf Arab monarchies have perceived Iran’s revolutionary ideology, including its anti-monarchic rhetoric and regional influence, as a threat to their political systems.
During the ongoing conflict, Tehran has targeted US military facilities and other infrastructure in Gulf states, highlighting the tensions between Tehran and its Gulf neighbors. Khamenei concluded by stating, "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."