Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated on Saturday, August 22, 2026, that Tehran has received numerous messages from neighboring countries regarding new security arrangements and economic cooperation. He argued that the United States has put the security of its allies at risk due to disregard for their interests for the sake of Israel, and asserted that a homegrown, independent order is what will deliver regional peace. Ghalibaf did not name the countries that reached out or provide details on proposed arrangements.
The remarks were amplified by regional tracking accounts, including one framing the outreach as Gulf states quietly contacting Iran as a consequence of the recent U.S.-Iran war. These comments follow Ghalibaf’s recent visit to Iraq to promote a regional order without foreign involvement, and coincide with Wall Street Journal reporting that U.S. allies are questioning Washington’s protection after the depletion of American weapons stockpiles during the war.
Independent confirmation of specific countries reaching out was not immediately available. The timing also coincides with anticipated new U.S. sanctions on Iran and ongoing friction in Iraq involving Iran-backed militias and oil transit through the Strait of Hormuz.