In the month since the United States and Israel launched an aerial bombing campaign against Iran, thousands have been killed across at least nine countries, and the conflict is costing global economies billions of dollars a day. Experts warn that the war could escalate even further.

Iran has fired missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members, including Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman.

So far, none of these states has retaliated militarily.

“Saudi Arabia has been very patient,” said retired Lieutenant General Muhammad Saeed, formerly the second-highest officer in the Pakistan Army.

“If the Saudis retaliate militarily, it won’t be the Saudis alone. That would then put the entire region into flames.”

Saudi Arabia’s direct involvement could trigger broader regional consequences, according to a CNN report.

In 2025, Riyadh signed a mutual defence agreement with Pakistan.

During a meeting in Islamabad on Sunday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked the Saudi foreign minister for “remarkable restraint” and assured him that Pakistan “would always stand shoulder to shoulder with Saudi Arabia.”

Analysts say this raises the possibility that a direct Iranian attack on Saudi Arabia could draw nuclear-armed Pakistan into the conflict.

However, Pakistan is unlikely to seek confrontation. The country witnessed a brief war with India less than a year ago, while border skirmishes with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan are ongoing.

“The least problematic relationship [Iran] has in its strategic environment is Pakistan,” said Kamran Bokhari, Senior Resident Fellow at the Middle East Policy Council in Washington. “There is no other channel.”

This recognition has prompted Pakistan to engage in crisis diplomacy.

On Sunday, top diplomats from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt met Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Islamabad to discuss ways to de-escalate tensions.

Dar said the discussions could pave the way for US-Iran peace talks hosted by Pakistan.

“Both Iran and the US have expressed their confidence in Pakistan to facilitate the talks,” Dar said.

He added that such a meeting could be possible “in the coming days.”

Dar also cited support from China following a call with Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and flew to Beijing on Tuesday for further talks despite suffering a hairline shoulder fracture.

Yet the situation remains volatile.

Houthis in Yemen have joined the conflict, firing missiles at Israel for the first time in this round of hostilities.

The US is also deploying thousands of troops to the Middle East, raising the possibility of a ground offensive against Iran.

Voices within Iran continue to signal defiance.

“This is our war, and we will not stop defending until we teach Trump and Netanyahu a historic lesson,” a senior Iranian security official told CNN.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Monday that Tehran has not participated in Pakistan-organised regional meetings.

“The meetings that Pakistan holds with neighbouring countries are within a framework they have designed themselves, and we have not participated in this framework,” he said.

Baghaei added that Iran’s priority is defending itself amid ongoing US attacks.

While both Washington and Tehran have declared victories, the exchange of drones, missiles, and bombs continues. Analysts warn that despite moments of restraint, the risk of a wider regional war remains high.