According to a report by Daily Post, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced on Saturday that Iran will suspend military strikes against neighboring states unless it is directly attacked, signaling what appears to be a shift toward a more defensive posture amid rising regional tensions. In a prerecorded televised address, Pezeshkian also offered an apology to nearby countries that had recently been targeted by Iranian military operations. His remarks came shortly after Iran launched a series of missile strikes against regional states including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. During the speech, the Iranian leader acknowledged the impact of those attacks and expressed regret for the escalation. He said the government would now adopt a different approach moving forward.
“I should apologize to the neighboring countries that were attacked by Iran, on my own behalf,” Pezeshkian said. He added that future military actions would only occur if Iran itself comes under attack. According to him, the country should avoid initiating hostilities and instead seek diplomatic engagement to resolve disputes with regional partners. The president emphasized that dialogue and negotiation should take priority over further military confrontation. His statement suggests an attempt by Iran’s leadership to ease tensions across the Gulf region following days of heightened military activity. “From now on, they should not attack neighboring countries or fire missiles at them, unless we are attacked by those countries,” he said.
The announcement reportedly followed discussions between Iran’s temporary leadership council and senior military officials. These consultations came in the wake of internal confusion within the country’s command structure after the deaths of several key leaders, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Pezeshkian also used the speech to criticize the United States, rejecting calls for Iran to accept an unconditional surrender. He described such demands as unrealistic and insisted that external pressure would not force Iran into submission. Despite the strong rhetoric, the president reiterated that diplomacy remains the preferred path for addressing regional disputes and restoring stability.