Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has dismissed Donald Trump's call for unconditional surrender as a 'dream', while issuing a rare apology to neighbouring Gulf states for Iranian strikes that hit civilian targets. In a televised address on Saturday, Pezeshkian said Iran would never capitulate, responding to the US president's remarks that only total submission could end the war.
Pezeshkian's apology came as the conflict entered its eighth day, with missiles and drones continuing to strike Gulf countries. Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have all reported attacks over the past week. Pezeshkian said Iran's temporary leadership council had approved suspending attacks on nearby countries unless an assault on Iran originated from those states.
Trump responded on his Truth Social platform, warning that Tehran faced 'complete destruction' if it did not surrender. He claimed Iran's apology was the result of mounting US military pressure. Israeli and US officials said strikes had destroyed about 60% of Iran's missile launchers and large stockpiles, and neutralised roughly 80% of its air defence systems.
Western officials urged caution in interpreting Pezeshkian's apology as a sign Tehran was seeking an off-ramp. 'It is one data point, no more,' one official said. Later, Mehdi Tabatabaei, deputy for communications in Pezeshkian's office, clarified that if regional countries do not cooperate in a US attack on Iran, Iran will not attack them.
Israel said it launched a fresh wave of strikes on Iran, sending 80 fighter jets in a pre-dawn blitz that set one of Tehran's main airports on fire. Targets included a military academy, an underground command centre and a missile storage facility.
