Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday said his recent comments about attacks in the Gulf had been “misinterpreted by the enemy”, after his remarks were seen by some as suggesting Tehran would suspend strikes on neighbouring countries.
Speaking on state television, Pezeshkian said Iran sought good relations with regional states and had no intention of creating divisions with its neighbours.
“It has repeatedly been said we are brothers and must have good relations with neighbours. However, we are forced to retaliate to attacks, but this does not mean we have a dispute with a neighbouring country or want to upset their people,” he said.
His clarification came after earlier remarks, including an apology to neighbouring states affected by Iranian attacks, triggered debate within Iran and across the region.
APOLOGY TO NEIGHBOURS SPARKS DEBATE
Pezeshkian had earlier apologised to Gulf countries affected by Iranian strikes targeting US military facilities in the region, urging them not to join the US-Israel campaign against Iran.
“I personally apologise to neighbouring countries that were affected by Iran’s actions,” he said, while rejecting US President Donald Trump’s demand for Iran’s unconditional surrender as “a dream.”
The Iranian president also said Tehran’s temporary leadership council had agreed to suspend attacks on nearby states unless strikes against Iran originated from their territory.
However, the remarks stirred criticism from hardliners at home, prompting Pezeshkian’s office to clarify that Iran’s military would continue to respond firmly to any attacks launched from US bases in the region.
Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said on state television that there was no disagreement among Iranian leaders over the country’s war strategy.
TRUMP RULES OUT NEGOTIATIONS
US President Donald Trump signalled that Washington was not interested in negotiating with Iran, raising the possibility that the conflict could end only if Tehran’s military capabilities and leadership were eliminated.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Saturday, Trump said the ongoing air campaign could make negotiations irrelevant if Iran’s leadership structure collapsed. “At some point, I don’t think there will be anybody left maybe to say ‘We surrender,’” Trump said.
Trump has defended the strikes on Iran by saying Tehran posed an imminent threat to the United States and was moving closer to developing a nuclear weapon, though he did not provide evidence.
Media reports have also suggested that the US and Israel have discussed the possibility of sending special forces into Iran at a later stage of the war to secure stockpiles of highly enriched uranium.
WAR SPREADS ACROSS WEST ASIA
The conflict entered its second week on Saturday with Israel launching fresh strikes across Iran, while explosions were reported in parts of Tehran. Iranian authorities say the US-Israeli campaign has killed at least 1,332 civilians and wounded thousands. Iranian missile and drone attacks have killed 10 people in Israel.
Iran has also targeted US military facilities and regional allies hosting American forces. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates reported drone attacks over the weekend with varying levels of damage, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had targeted US forces at a base in Bahrain.
The widening conflict has also spilled into Lebanon, where Israel warned the government it would pay a “very heavy price” if it failed to rein in Hezbollah militants backed by Iran.
Israeli airstrikes have pounded Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon, including Beirut’s southern suburbs, leaving large sections of the area reduced to rubble. The death toll from Israeli attacks in Lebanon since Monday has risen to around 300.
The escalating war has also rattled global energy markets, with disruptions across the Gulf pushing oil prices to multi-year highs and forcing several regional producers to cut output.
With agency inputs
