Masoud Pezeshkian has apologised to neighbouring countries affected by Iran’s recent missile and drone strikes, while maintaining that Tehran will not bow to pressure from Israel and the United States.
In a speech broadcast on Iranian state television, Pezeshkian said Iran’s adversaries should abandon any expectation that the country would surrender unconditionally.
“Iran’s enemies must take their wish for the unconditional surrender of the Iranian people to their graves,” he declared.
The remarks come amid escalating regional tensions following strikes launched by Israel and the United States against Iran on February 28. The operation resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, and triggered a wider conflict across the Middle East.
Since then, Iran has responded with a series of missile and drone attacks targeting Israeli assets and U.S. interests across the region, particularly in Gulf countries.
Pezeshkian, who is currently serving as one of three members of an interim leadership council governing Iran after Khamenei’s death, used the address to acknowledge the impact of the retaliatory strikes on neighbouring states.
“I must apologise on my own behalf and on behalf of Iran to the neighbouring countries that were attacked by Iran,” he said.
He also announced that Iran’s interim leadership had agreed to halt attacks on neighbouring countries unless those nations were directly involved in actions against Iran.
“The interim leadership council agreed yesterday that no more attacks will be made on neighbouring countries and no missiles will be fired unless an attack on Iran originates from those countries,” Pezeshkian stated.
The comments signal an attempt by Tehran to reduce tensions with surrounding nations while maintaining a defiant stance toward Israel and the United States as the regional conflict continues to unfold.
