West Asia conflict: Iran says no strikes on neighbouring countries unless attacks originate from them
IRAN,MAR 7 : Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday apologised to neighbouring countries for recent attacks amid the escalating regional conflict, saying Tehran had no intention of invading other nations even as hostilities with Israel and the United States intensified.
In a televised address, Pezeshkian said Iran’s temporary leadership council had decided to suspend attacks on neighbouring countries and halt missile launches unless those countries initiated attacks against Iran.
“I apologise to the neighbouring countries. We have no intention of invading other countries,” Pezeshkian said, adding that the decision was aimed at preventing further escalation in the region.
Pezeshkian said the leadership council had approved a measure to stop strikes against neighbouring states while maintaining the right to respond if Iran was attacked.
“The temporary leadership council announced that there will be no more attacks on neighbouring countries and no missile launches unless attacks originate from those countries against Iran,” he said.
However, Iran has continued exchanging attacks with Israel as the conflict widened across the region following U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets.
TRUMP DEMANDS ‘UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER’
The war entered its second week on Saturday with uncertainty growing over when hostilities might end. US President Donald Trump renewed pressure on Tehran, demanding what he described as Iran’s “unconditional surrender”.
“There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Friday, adding that once new leadership emerged in Iran, Washington and its allies would work to rebuild the country’s economy.
Earlier, Pezeshkian had said on social media that unnamed countries had begun mediation efforts, briefly raising hopes of a diplomatic breakthrough.
Rejecting Washington’s demand, the Iranian president said such expectations were unrealistic. “They will take their dreams of us surrendering unconditionally to the grave,” he said.
WAR SPREADS ACROSS REGION
The conflict has spread well beyond Iran’s borders, with Iran striking Israel and several Gulf states that host US military bases. Missiles were seen flying toward Israel early Saturday as Israeli air defences were activated to intercept incoming Iranian strikes. In response, Israel launched a fresh wave of attacks targeting infrastructure in Tehran.
Israel also carried out strikes in neighbouring Lebanon, saying it was targeting Iranian and Hezbollah-linked positions.
Iranian state-linked media reported that Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport was struck, though there was no immediate comment from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
CASUALTIES RISE, MARKETS SHAKE
According to Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, US-Israeli strikes have killed at least 1,332 Iranian civilians and wounded thousands.
Iranian attacks have killed 11 people in Israel, while at least six US service members have also been reported dead.
The conflict has also triggered wider regional fallout. Israel has intensified its bombardment of Lebanon, including strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, prompting large-scale displacement.
Around 300,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon in recent days, according to the Norwegian Refugee Council, while the Lebanese health ministry has reported 123 people killed and 683 wounded in Israeli attacks.
Global markets have also been rattled by the escalating war, with European and US stocks falling sharply and oil prices surging to multi-year highs as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for nearly a fifth of the world’s oil supply, faces disruption.
-AFP
