Ali Larijani, one of Iran's most prominent political figures and a key voice in the post-Khamenei transition, has issued a sharp rebuke of Muslim-majority nations for their silence during recent Israeli and American military operations against Iranian targets, underscoring Tehran's growing isolation in the region.
"It was regrettable that no Muslim country stood with the Iranian people during the attacks," Larijani stated in remarks posted to social media. His message to regional governments was direct: "America & Israel on one side, Iran & resistance on the other. Muslim nations must choose. America holds no loyalty to you. Reflect. History will remember where you stood."
The statement reflects Iran's deepening diplomatic isolation following Ali Khamenei's assassination earlier this month. While Tehran has long positioned itself as a champion of Palestinian rights and regional resistance to Israeli and American influence, Arab states have increasingly maintained distance from Iran's so-called "axis of resistance" as regional dynamics shift.
Several Gulf Arab states, including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, normalized relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords in 2020, and recent Iranian attacks on UAE territory have pushed Gulf states even closer to open security cooperation with Israel. Saudi Arabia, while not formally normalizing ties with Israel, has also declined to publicly support Iran in the current crisis.
Larijani's comments come at a moment of profound internal transition in . Following death, the regime faces both succession questions and the reality that its regional influence through proxy forces has provoked direct military consequences without the backing of neighboring Muslim nations.
