A Directive for Global Peace-by Dr Harold Gunatillake
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian – middle, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i, the head of the judiciary and Alireza Arafi, second deputy chairman of the Assembly of Experts, attend the meeting of the interim leadership council of Iran in an unknown location in Iran, on March 1, 2026 [IRIB/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via Reuters]
Image Source:Aljazeera
The world is in a state of upheaval today, due solely to the actions and decisions of a President elected by the citizens of the United States.
We maintain optimism regarding the pursuit of a resolution for global peace, which must be executed expeditiously to avert further decline. The entity has demonstrated resilience and advanced asymmetric capabilities, establishing itself as a significant, although structurally challenged, power in the Middle East, especially in the context of the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel that commenced in February 2026.
While analysts frequently characterise Iran as a “top 20” global military power owing to its missile and drone arsenal, the intense conflict in early 2026 has concurrently demonstrated its capacity
to project power and revealed its susceptibility to prolonged, high- technology conventional warfare.
Masoud Pezeshkian, the newly elected Supreme Leader of Iran, is of sound judgment following the events of 28 February 2026. On that date, Israel and the United States conducted coordinated airstrikes across multiple locations and cities within Iran. These assaults resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other officials, thereby initiating hostilities aimed at regime change. In response, he ordered the evacuation of all United States military facilities in Middle Eastern countries.
Key United States military centres in the Middle East comprise Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar (the forward headquarters of CENTCOM), Bahrain (home to the United States Navy Fifth Fleet), and Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates. Other significant locations include Camp Arifjan in Kuwait, Ayn al-Asad and Erbil in Iraq, Muwaffaq Salti in Jordan, and additional sites in Syria.
As of March 16–17, 2026, reports indicate that Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, and other officials have demanded the removal of U.S. military bases from the region, warning that they will continue to be targeted if they are not closed.
However, Iranian officials have refuted the characterisation of this as an explicit and formal “order for a ceasefire,” asserting that Iran is not pursuing a ceasefire and will persist in its resistance.
Iranian politician Masoud Pezeshkian has explicitly asserted that Iran “will never surrender to the United States or Israel” amidst escalating military tensions in the region. His statements coincide with ongoing Iranian operations targeting strategic locations across West Asia, including missile and drone strikes on Israeli and allied facilities.
Pezeshkian’s comments underscore Tehran’s resistance to US and Israeli military interventions, affirming Iran’s right to protect its sovereignty and retaliate against foreign attacks. Experts caution that this rhetoric may signal an escalation, complicating de- escalation efforts and raising regional security concerns.
The US Army centres in the Middle East referenced above must relocate prior to Iran contemplating any negotiations for peace and ceasing its retaliatory actions.
The inference that the United States is accepting the request to withdraw all military bases from the Middle East alone indicates a significant diminution of President Trump’s ego.
In such a scenario, the United States would lose its supremacy, and President Trump may be required to consider the directives of the Iranian leader and act accordingly in the interest of global peace.
Subsequently, Masoud Pezeshkian is strategically positioned to unify all Middle Eastern nations and establish a coalition comparable to NATO, thereby exerting influence over the region’s geopolitics.
Re-opening the Strait of Hormuz
As of mid-March 2026, the Strait of Hormuz is experiencing a severe, de facto closure following US and Israeli strikes on Iran that began on February 28, 2026. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has threatened to, and has effectively, blocked the waterway, with traffic falling by over 90% and shipping stalling due to fears of attack.
If President Trump executes the directive to dismantle all military installations in the Middle East, we believe that Mr Masoud will reopen the Strait of Hormuz to facilitate the passage and unrestricted movement of oil-carrying vessels.
World peace is inevitable if the above plan is accepted with the necessary modifications.
Based on the aforementioned plan outlined by the author and implemented with necessary adjustments, developing countries such as Sri Lanka will once again progress following a period of setbacks caused by numerous previous challenges.
With the aforementioned alliance encompassing the Middle East, Russia, and China, Sri Lanka is expected to experience an
increased influx of tourists, who are widely recognised for seeking a relaxed holiday environment.
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