By Palestine Chronicle Staff  

Iranian leaders urge Muslim governments to clarify positions as Larijani appeals for unity and Araghchi condemns civilian deaths.

Key Developments

• Larijani urges Muslim governments to clarify where they stand in the confrontation.
• Iran accuses regional states hosting US bases of enabling attacks.
• Araghchi says hundreds of civilians killed, calls on governments to clarify stance.
• Larijani’s full message to the Muslim world is reproduced in full below.

Appeal to the Muslim World

Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, issued a message addressed to Muslims around the world and to the governments of Islamic countries, urging them to reconsider their positions amid the ongoing confrontation between Iran, the United States, and Israel.

In the message, Larijani said Iran had been subjected to a coordinated assault during negotiations, describing the attacks as a deceptive act aimed at weakening the country.

“Iran was subjected to a treacherous aggression carried out during negotiations with Washington, and its goal was to dismantle Iran,” he said.

The attacks led to the killing of senior leaders, civilians, and military commanders, Larijani said. Despite these losses, he added that the Iranian population responded with what he described as strong national resistance.

“The Iranian people, through their strong will, managed to suppress the attacking enemy until it has now become incapable of finding a way out of this strategic predicament,” he wrote.

Larijani framed the current confrontation as part of a broader regional struggle, urging Muslim governments to examine their positions carefully.

“Which side do you stand on?” he asked in the message addressed to Muslims and Islamic governments.

Criticism of Muslim Governments

Larijani also criticized what he described as the limited support offered by many Islamic countries during the war.

He said that, with only rare exceptions and largely limited to political statements, Islamic governments had not stood alongside Iran during the conflict.

“The Islamic countries, except for rare cases and within the limits of political positions only, did not stand beside the Iranian people,” he said.

The Iranian official also questioned the stance of governments that had criticized Iran for targeting US military installations or Israeli-linked interests located on their territory.

Some states, he said, had gone further by declaring Iran an enemy because Tehran targeted American bases or interests inside their borders.

“Is Iran expected to stand with its hands tied while American bases in those countries are used to attack it?” he asked.

Larijani described these arguments as weak justifications. “These are flimsy pretexts,” he wrote.

To emphasize the moral dimension of the issue, Larijani invoked a well-known prophetic saying.

“Whoever hears a man calling out ‘O Muslims!’ and does not respond is not a Muslim.”

He then asked whether the positions adopted by some Islamic governments were compatible with that principle.

“What kind of Islam is this?” he asked.

عبدٌ من عباد الله
علي لاريجاني https://t.co/bwICBtOPRM pic.twitter.com/prh5F02Krh

— Ali Larijani | علی لاریجانی (@alilarijani_ir) March 16, 2026

Confrontation and Resistance

Larijani described the regional conflict in stark terms, portraying it as a struggle between two opposing camps.

“The confrontation today is between America and Israel on one side, and Muslim Iran and the forces of Resistance on the other,” he said.

He also reaffirmed that Iran would continue to resist pressure from Washington and Israel. Iran, he wrote, remains committed to what he described as the path of resistance against the United States and Israel.

At the same time, Larijani said Iran was not seeking domination over other countries in the Islamic world.

“Iran does not seek to dominate the Islamic countries. Rather, it offers advice to them,” he said.

Instead, he argued that unity within the Islamic world would ultimately provide security and independence for Muslim nations.

“The unity of the Islamic nation, if it is achieved with strength, can guarantee security, progress and independence for all its countries,” he wrote.

Larijani concluded his message by urging governments across the Muslim world to reflect on the long-term future of the region.

“You know that America has no loyalty and that Israel is your enemy,” he said.

Hundreds of Iranian civilians have been killed in Israel-U.S. bombings, including over 200 children.

Reports claim that some neighboring states which host U.S. forces and permit attacks on Iran are also actively encouraging this slaughter. Stances should be promptly clarified.

— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) March 16, 2026

Araghchi Calls for Positions

Separately, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also addressed the escalating conflict in a message posted on the social platform X.

He wrote that large numbers of civilians had been killed during the bombardment.

“Hundreds of Iranian civilians have been killed in the bombings, including more than 200 children,” Araghchi said.

He also accused some neighboring countries of facilitating the attacks by allowing US forces to operate from bases located on their territory.

According to Araghchi, these governments must make their positions clear regarding the conflict.

“Stances should be promptly clarified,” he wrote.

The Iranian foreign minister suggested that some states hosting American military installations may be encouraging the attacks on Iran.

His remarks come amid escalating tensions across the region as Iran continues its confrontation with the United States and Israel following their attacks launched on February 28.

Iranian officials have repeatedly warned that countries facilitating attacks against Iran could face consequences if the conflict continues to expand.

Ali Larijani’s Full Message

Below is the full message issued by Ali Larijani to Muslims worldwide and the governments of Islamic countries:

“Iran was subjected to a treacherous aggression carried out during negotiations with Washington, and its goal was to dismantle Iran.

The attacks led to the martyrdom of senior leaders, civilians and military commanders, but the Iranian people demonstrated firm national and Islamic resistance.

The Islamic countries, except for rare cases and within the limits of political positions only, did not stand beside the Iranian people.

The Iranian people, through their strong will, managed to suppress the attacking enemy until it has now become incapable of finding a way out of this strategic predicament.

Some governments even declared Iran their enemy because it targeted American bases and Israeli interests on their territory.

Is Iran expected to stand with its hands tied while American bases in those countries are used to attack it?

These are flimsy pretexts.

Whoever hears a man calling out ‘O Muslims!’ and does not respond is not a Muslim.

What kind of Islam is this?

Which side do you stand on?

The confrontation today is between America and Israel on one side, and Muslim Iran and the forces of Resistance on the other.

Iran does not seek to dominate the Islamic countries. Rather, it offers advice to them.

The unity of the Islamic nation, if it is achieved with strength, can guarantee security, progress and independence for all its countries.

You know that America has no loyalty and that Israel is your enemy.”

(Social Media/X, Al-Mayadeen, Al Jazeera, PC)