Trump Demands Iran Surrender, Iran’s President Apologises to Neighboring Countries

PRESIDENT of the United States, Donald Trump, says there will be no deal with Iran other than unconditional surrender. In a statement on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump added: “After the election of a GREAT & ACCEPTABLE leader, we along with our extraordinary, incredibly brave allies and partners will work tirelessly to bring Iran back from the brink of ruin, making it bigger, better, and stronger economically than ever before. IRAN WILL HAVE A BRIGHT FUTURE. ‘MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN (MIGA!)’”. Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian broadcast a video message on national television on Saturday (07/03). ‘I feel the need to apologise to the neighbouring countries that were attacked,’ he said. ‘We do not intend to attack neighbouring countries,’ he added, while calling for regional cooperation to ‘achieve peace and calm’. Pezeshkian added that a decision has been issued to the armed forces: ‘from now on, do not attack neighbouring countries unless attacked first.’ ‘Those who consider exploiting this situation to attack Iran must not be puppet of imperialism,’ Pezeshkian said, while adding that supporting Israel or the US is not ‘the path to honour and freedom’. Meanwhile, an explosion followed by a thick plume of smoke occurred at Mehrabad Airport, Iran’s busiest airport and main domestic air hub. In footage shared by witnesses on social media, several aircraft appear to be on fire. Satellite imagery taken on Friday (06/03) shows several aircraft on the tarmac. Iranian state media also reported that parts of the airport had been targeted. This development comes after the Israeli military said it was launching a ‘new wave of strikes on a large scale’ in the country. The assault on Lebanon’s Dahieh district in the southern Beirut area, a Shia-majority region, occurred on Friday (06/03) according to Reuters. As of now, 1,332 civilians have been killed in the US-Israel strikes on Iran since Saturday (28/02), according to Iran’s Ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani. Speaking to reporters at the UN headquarters in New York, Iravani added that women and children are among the dead, according to the Iranian Red Crescent. ‘Thousands more have been injured, with numbers rising,’ he said, accusing schools, hospitals and other civilian infrastructure of being deliberately targeted. The US government has denied targeting civilian infrastructure, but is investigating a deadly strike on a girls’ school in Iran. Israel, meanwhile, accuses Iran of attacking its civilians. In Lebanon, 217 people have died and 798 others wounded since Israel began its assault on Monday (02/03), according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. The US-Israel-Iran dispute has spilled into the Middle East. In Bahrain, air strikes targeted two hotels and a residential building. Saudi Arabia and Qatar said they intercepted missiles and drones over their airspace. The Bahraini Interior Ministry announced that two hotels and a residential building in Manama were hit, with the attack linked to Iran, but the ministry said there were no casualties, though financial losses. Earlier this week, a US Navy base at Bahrain was also targeted by Iranian missiles. Iran has not reacted to the news but announced hours later that it had begun a new round of missiles and drone attacks. It also announced the use of the Khaybar missile. The Defence Ministry of Qatar said its air force had successfully intercepted a drone attack against Ad-Dhugh Base, the largest US military base in the Middle East. Previously, Qatar had issued a security alert by text message advising citizens to avoid windows and open spaces. Separately, President Trump said he must have a direct role in selecting Iran’s new leader. BBC Persian reported that Trump again urged Iranian soldiers to lay down their weapons. Trump also suggested Iranian diplomats seek protection in the country where they are stationed. Reports from Iran say air attacks continue, with military and government targets among those struck by Israel and the US. On Thursday, one stadium within the Azadi sports complex was targeted by bombing. The WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he has confirmed that ‘There have been 13 attacks on health facilities in Iran and one attack in Lebanon.’ Ghebreyesus did not elaborate or name those responsible, but said: ‘Under international humanitarian law, health services and facilities must be protected and must not be targeted.’ A few days ago, photos and videos showed extensive damage at Gandhi Tehran Hospital, forcing the transfer of all patients receiving care there. AFP via Getty Images Black smoke was seen rising from the US Embassy in Kuwait City on 2 March following the latest Iranian attacks. US Navy submarines sink an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed that a US submarine had sunk ‘an Iranian warship’ in the Indian Ocean. ‘The ship felt safe in international waters, but was struck by a torpedo,’ he said. Hegseth did not name the vessel.