Iran President apologises for strikes on neighbouring countries, says attacks caused by miscommunication

Iran’s ​President Masoud ‌Pezeshkian said on ​Saturday (March 7, 2026) ⁠that its temporary leadership ‌council had approved the ‌suspension ‌of ⁠attacks ⁠against neighbouring countries unless an ​attack ‌on Iran came from those countries.

He also apologised for Iran’s attacks on regional countries, insisting that Tehran would halt them and suggesting they were caused by miscommunication in the ranks.

Israel-Iran war LIVE updates

The ‌announcement ​came as Iran ⁠continued to launch ‌attacks in the region in response to U.S.-Israeli ‌strikes on ​the Islamic Republic.

The Iran President said that a demand by the United States for an unconditional surrender is a “dream that they should take to their grave”. Mr. Pezeshkian made the statement in a prerecorded address aired by state television.

The comments came as intense Iranian fire targeted the Gulf Arab states early on Saturday (March 7) as Israel and the United States kept up their airstrikes targeting the Islamic Republic. There were repeated attacks on Saturday (March 7) morning on Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

There was no foreseeable end to the fighting. U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration approved a new $151 million arms sale to Israel after Mr. Trump said he would not negotiate with Iran without its “unconditional surrender”, and U.S. officials warned of a forthcoming bombing campaign they said would be the most intense yet in the weeklong conflict.

Iran’s UN Ambassador said the country would “take all necessary measures” to defend itself.