Iran President Pezeshkian apologises to neighbouring countries for attacks: ‘Will not strike unless...’

Iran president apologises to neighbouring countries for attacks

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has apologised to neighbouring countries for attacks launched during Tehran’s ongoing conflict with Israel and the United States, while saying Iran would avoid targeting regional states unless attacks against it originated from their territory.

Speaking in remarks broadcast on state television on Saturday, Pezeshkian said Iran did not intend to target neighbouring countries and sought to reassure regional governments amid the escalating conflict.

"I apologise... to the neighbouring countries that were attacked by Iran," said Pezeshkian in a speech broadcast by state TV. The Iranian president said Tehran had adopted a policy of avoiding strikes on neighbouring states unless attacks on Iran were launched from their territory.

"Iran will not carry out attacks or missile strikes against neighboring countries unless an attack against Iran originates from those countries," President Masoud Pezeshkian was quoted by Iran International as saying on Saturday.

Pezeshkian added that Iran’s interim leadership council had approved the policy aimed at preventing further escalation with regional countries.

He also reiterated that Tehran holds no hostility toward neighbouring states and does not seek conflict with governments across the region, even as hostilities with Israel and the United States continue.

He also added Iran would never surrender to Israel and the United States, as the war in the Middle East entered its second week. Pezeshkian rejected demands for Iran’s unconditional surrender and said the country would continue to resist external pressure.

Pezeshkian spoke less than a day after US President Donald Trump said his government wouldn’t negotiate with Tehran without its “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER.”

"Iran's enemies "must take their wish for the unconditional surrender of the Iranian people to their graves," Pezeshkian said, in a speech broadcast on state TV.

The conflict escalated after Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran on February 28, killing the Islamic republic’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and triggering a wider regional confrontation.

In response, Iran has carried out missile and drone attacks targeting Israel as well as US-linked facilities in several regional countries, particularly in the Gulf.

Pezeshkian is currently one of three members of Iran’s interim leadership council that assumed authority after Khamenei’s death.

During his speech, the Iranian president also apologised to neighbouring countries for attacks launched during the conflict, saying Tehran did not intend to target regional states unless attacks against Iran originated from their territory.

"I must apologise on my own behalf and on behalf of Iran to the neighbouring countries that were attacked by Iran," he said.

"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."