The Digest:
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has apologized to neighboring countries affected by retaliatory airstrikes in the week-old conflict with Israel and the US, while announcing a leadership directive to armed forces to "not attack neighbouring countries unless attacked first." In a video message aired by state television, Pezeshkian stated: "I deem it necessary to apologise to neighbouring countries that were attacked. We do not intend to invade neighbouring countries." He called for regional cooperation to "establish peace and calm" and warned that "those considering exploiting this moment to attack Iran must not become puppets of imperialism." The apology follows Iran's missile and drone strikes on US military bases in Gulf countries including Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, and Kuwait, which Tehran defended as retaliation for US-Israeli "preemptive" strikes. Shortly after the address, Qatar's ministry of defence reported intercepting a missile attack, while Israel announced fresh strikes targeting Iranian infrastructure in Tehran and Isfahan.
Key Points
- Pezeshkian's apology signals a potential de-escalation after a week of retaliatory strikes.
- The "no attack unless attacked" directive could reduce regional tensions if reciprocated.
- The apology comes amid ongoing Israeli strikes, testing Iran's commitment to restraint.
- Qatar's intercepted missile immediately after the address shows conflict persistence.
- Trump mocked Iran as "Loser of Middle East" following the apology.
Sources: State Television Address
