Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian announced that the temporary leadership council has approved halting attacks on neighbouring countries, unless Iran faces direct aggression from them.
This de-escalation pledge comes amid Tehran’s ongoing regional strikes responding to recent US-Israeli strikes on the Islamic Republic of Iran, as per Reuters.
“I apologise to neighbouring countries. We have no intention of invading others,” Pezeshkian stated, explaining that the move aims to prevent further regional escalation.
The pledge comes amid escalating regional tensions following recent US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which triggered Iranian missile and drone attacks across parts of the Gulf.
The broader conflict has already caused hundreds of casualties and major disruptions across the Middle East, raising fears of a wider regional war.
Tehran pauses regional strikes
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced that the leadership council has approved strikes on neighbouring countries while reserving its rights to respond if attacked first.
The temporary leadership council said that there will be no more attacks on the neighbouring countries, no missiles unless attacks originate from those countries against Iran.
The move aims to curb regional escalation, since February 28, after the US-Israel launched ‘pre-emptive’ strikes on Tehran, leading to the death of its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran launched strikes on its regional neighbours, targeting mainly US bases and military establishments.
For a week, Tehran targeted areas like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain. Though in retaliation, Iran targeted several civilian infrastructure, causing widespread damage, chaos and uncertainty in West Asia.
Iran’s widening targeting of the neighbouring countries escalated the tension in West Asia.
However, Pezeshkian vowed Tehran “will not surrender,” declaring, “The enemies must take their wish for the Iranian people’s surrender to their graves.”
Trump’s unconditional surrender bid and widespread damage
US President Donald Trump demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender” this week, echoing World War II ultimatums amid escalating strikes.
“Iran must surrender unconditionally, or face consequences like never before, total obliteration of their capabilities,” said Trump. This hardline stance aims to end Tehran’s missile barrages on Gulf states, but risks broader war.
Pezeshkian earlier posted on social media that unnamed countries launched mediation efforts, briefly sparking diplomatic hopes.
With the announcement of pausing strikes in regional countries, hopes for minimising wider damage across West Asia.
Although Pezeshkian also urged Gulf states to negotiate differences directly rather than fall into US-Israel traps.
“Honour cannot be gained with foxes, liars, and criminals. If we disagree, let’s sit and resolve it together, not become pawns of Israel and America,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes pounded Tehran and central Iran Friday night, hitting key military targets like an underground ballistic missile factory and a military academy, per the IDF.
