Iranian President Apologises to Neighbouring Countries Affected by Attacks

President Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran has apologised to neighbouring countries affected by Iran’s attacks since the start of the Middle East conflict. In a speech broadcast by state television on Saturday, Pezeshkian said Iran would refrain from further attacks against neighbouring states unless an attack against Iran originated from their territory. ‘I must apologise on my own behalf and on behalf of Iran to the neighbouring countries that have been attacked,’ he said. He added that the interim leadership council had decided to refrain from new attacks and to refrain from launching missiles unless the attacks against Iran came from those countries. Pezeshkian is currently one of three members of the interim leadership council who govern Iran after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in an American-Israeli attack on February 28. The attack triggered a regional conflict involving several Middle Eastern countries. Since then, Iran has launched retaliation using missiles and drones against Israel and US interests across Gulf states. Despite apologising, Pezeshkian stressed that Iran would not yield to pressure from Israel and the United States, saying: ‘Enemies of Iran must bring their desire for the Iranian people to surrender to their graves’.