Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, delivered sharp criticism on Monday, March 16, 2026, against Islamic nations for failing to stand alongside the Islamic Republic during the ongoing regional conflict. Larijani’s remarks came as Iran declared its readiness to continue the war “to the furthest extent” with Israel and the United States, signaling no intention to seek early diplomatic resolution. The statement reflects Tehran’s frustration with the political isolation it faces within the Muslim world despite framing the conflict in religious and anti-colonial terms.<\/p>\n
In a message posted on his official social media accounts in Arabic, Larijani stated “except for rare cases and only in terms of political positions, no Islamic state has stood beside the Iranian people.” He directed pointed criticism at Gulf states, noting that some Islamic governments went “further and said Iran has become an enemy because it targeted American bases and American and Israeli interests on its territory.”<\/p>\n
H2: Larijani’s Pointed Challenge to Gulf Leadership<\/p>\n
Larijani posed a rhetorical question that encapsulated Iran’s frustration: “Is Iran asked to stand idle while American bases in your countries are used to attack it?” He characterized the position of these governments as contradicting Islamic principles, citing a Hadith stating “whoever hears someone calling ‘O Muslims’ and does not answer, is not a Muslim.”<\/p>\n
These statements represent a deliberate attempt by Iran to frame the regional conflict in religious and Islamic terms, seeking to mobilize support from the broader Muslim world and delegitimize the positions adopted by Gulf states, particularly the UAE and Saudi Arabia, which have maintained relative neutrality or positioned themselves against Iran’s military operations.<\/p>\n
The underlying tension in Larijani’s criticism reflects a fundamental contradiction in Gulf state positioning: while many Gulf nations maintain Islamic governance frameworks, their strategic alliances with the United States and security considerations have led them to distance themselves from Iran’s military campaign. Gulf states deny hosting American bases explicitly designed for operations against Iran, though the US military presence in the region is substantial and multifaceted.<\/p>\n
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told reporters on Monday that Iran stands ready to continue the conflict indefinitely. He stated “I believe they (Americans and Israelis) have learned the lesson well now, and realized what kind of country they are dealing with, a country that does not hesitate to defend itself, and is prepared to continue the war wherever it leads, and to pursue it to the furthest extent necessity dictates.”<\/p>\n
This declaration represents a significant escalation in Iranian rhetoric and suggests Tehran views the conflict as existential, not merely tactical. The willingness to pursue war “to the furthest extent” signals rejection of constraints that might otherwise limit military operations.<\/p>\n
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that approximately 700 missiles and 3,600 drones have been launched against American and Israeli targets since the conflict erupted on February 28. These figures represent unprecedented scale in Iranian military operations against foreign adversaries and indicate preparation for sustained conflict.<\/p>\n
The IRGC targeted Tel Aviv and Ben Gurion Airport in Israel, along with American military bases in the UAE and Bahrain, demonstrating Iran’s willingness to strike targets across the entire Gulf region and beyond.<\/p>\n
Iran maintained offensive operations on Monday, with drone strikes igniting a fuel tank fire near Dubai International Airport, disrupting global aviation traffic. A missile strike killed a civilian in Abu Dhabi, while drone attacks triggered fires in oil infrastructure in Fujairah. Explosions were reported in Doha as Qatar’s air defense systems intercepted incoming missiles.<\/p>\n
Tehran experienced explosions as Israeli strikes targeted Shiraz in the south and Tabriz in the northwest, with activated Iranian air defenses responding to the incoming attacks. Israeli military spokespersons declared that the Jewish state possesses “thousands of remaining targets” within Iran.<\/p>\n
The first non-Iranian oil tanker to transit the Strait of Hormuz since the war began on February 28 successfully passed through, broadcasting identification signals via the Automatic Identification System (AIS), according to maritime monitoring service Marine Traffic on Monday. This limited resumption of traffic underscores the near-total paralysis that Iran has imposed on global maritime commerce through the region’s most critical chokepoint.<\/p>\n
Oil prices worldwide surged 40 to 50 percent following Iran’s attacks on maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and its commencement of strikes against Gulf states. The disruption of one of the world’s most vital trade routes, through which approximately one-fifth of global petroleum exports normally flow, has triggered widespread economic concern globally.<\/p>\n
The disruption extends beyond energy markets, affecting global supply chains, shipping insurance costs, and economic stability in energy-dependent nations. The paralysis of international commerce through the Strait of Hormuz represents one of the most significant economic consequences of the regional war, with implications for inflation and economic growth in industrialized nations.<\/p>\n
President Donald Trump has repeatedly called for international military cooperation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. In an interview with the Financial Times, Trump warned that NATO faces a “very bad” future if it fails to assist US allies in opening the passage, threatening to postpone a scheduled summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.<\/p>\n
Trump called on nations including China, France, Japan, South Korea, and Britain to deploy naval vessels to escort tankers through the strait. His diplomatic initiative encountered significant resistance from traditional US allies.<\/p>\n
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that Britain is working with allies on a “feasible plan” to reopen the Strait of Hormuz but emphasized it will not occur “under NATO’s umbrella” and stressed Britain will not be “drawn into a wider war.” The German government declared that NATO is not concerned with the conflict, with spokesman Stefan Cornelius stating that “NATO is an alliance for defending member territories,” and no mandate exists for deploying alliance forces in the current situation. Japan and Australia announced they do not intend to deploy naval vessels.<\/p>\n
Israel announced the beginning of “limited ground activity” against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon “aimed at expanding the scope of the forward defense zone.” Israeli military spokesperson Niv Shoshani stated “it is clear to us that Hezbollah intends to expand its operations and is launching hundreds of rockets daily” toward Israel.<\/p>\n
Israel issued evacuation notices on an unprecedented scale across broad areas of Lebanon, triggering a major displacement crisis. Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz warned on Monday that displaced Lebanese will not be permitted to return to their homes until Israel’s northern border security is guaranteed.<\/p>\n
Israel conducted Sunday strikes on Beirut’s southern suburb, Hezbollah’s stronghold with hundreds of thousands of residents. The massive evacuation campaign reflects Israeli intent to create a security buffer in southern Lebanon through depopulation of border areas.<\/p>\n
Iran responded to US-Israeli strikes by attacking at least 10 nations hosting American forces. Saudi Arabia intercepted more than 60 drones since midnight Sunday-Monday, according to Saudi Defense Ministry statements.<\/p>\n
UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a telephone conversation on Monday condemning “blatant and continued Iranian aggression” against Gulf states, calling for “an immediate halt to military escalation.” Notably, their statement did not mention US-Israeli strikes against Iran.<\/p>\n
Qatar’s foreign ministry stressed that diplomacy with Iran is only possible if Tehran “halts its attacks” on Doha and other Gulf states.<\/p>\n
Iran’s Health Ministry reported on March 8 that more than 1,200 people have been killed in US and Israeli strikes. AFP could not independently verify this figure.<\/p>\n
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees reported that up to 3.2 million people have been internally displaced within Iran since the war began, reflecting the scale of the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding within Iranian borders.<\/p>\n
Larijani’s criticism of Islamic nations reveals Tehran’s strategic frustration with its diplomatic isolation despite framing the conflict in religious terms. The failure to attract meaningful support from the broader Muslim world contradicts Iran’s narrative of representing Islamic interests against Western-Israeli aggression. This isolation contrasts sharply with Iran’s military determination and willingness to accept prolonged conflict.<\/p>\n
Trump’s inability to mobilize NATO or persuade key allies to participate in escort operations for Hormuz transit reflects broader fractures in the Western alliance. European nations prioritize avoiding escalation over supporting American strategic objectives in the Gulf, signaling that alliance cohesion cannot be assumed when confronting regional powers willing to disrupt global commerce.<\/p>\n
Larijani’s denunciation of Islamic nations for failing to support Iran, coupled with Tehran’s declaration of willingness to continue war “to the furthest extent,” signals that the regional conflict will persist without early resolution. As oil prices surge, maritime commerce in the Strait of Hormuz approaches total paralysis, and military operations expand from Iran to Lebanon across the entire Gulf region, the human and economic costs mount dramatically. The reluctance of Islamic nations to rally behind Iran, despite the conflict’s framing in religious terms, and the failure of Trump’s international coalition to secure the Strait of Hormuz indicate that geopolitical calculations of national interest override religious solidarity or alliance obligations. The war appears positioned for indefinite continuation with escalating consequences for regional and global stability.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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