Iranian Presdient Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday apologised to neighbouring countries that were targeted in recent Iranian attacks, saying Tehran would avoid striking regional states unless assaults on Iran originated from their territory.
“I apologise… to the neighbouring countries that were attacked by Iran," Pezeshkian said in a speech broadcast by state television.
The Iranian president said the country had adopted a policy of refraining from attacks on neighbouring nations unless those territories were used to launch strikes against Iran.
“Iran will not carry out attacks or missile strikes against neighboring countries unless an attack against Iran originates from those countries," Pezeshkian was quoted by Iran International as saying on Saturday.
Pezeshkian added that the policy had been approved by Iran’s interim leadership council, describing it as a step intended to avoid further escalation with countries in the region.
He also said that Tehran harbours no hostility toward neighbouring states and does not seek confrontation with governments across the region, even as tensions with Israel and the United States persist.
However, Pezeshkian asserted that Tehran would “not surrender". “The enemies must take their wish for the surrender of the Iranian people to their graves," he said.
For the past week, Iran has been launching missiles in retaliation for the killing of its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. The strikes have hit several Gulf locations, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain, with videos circulating online showing widespread destruction.
The United States and Israel carried out coordinated airstrikes across Iran on February 28 following stalled nuclear talks and allegations that Tehran had resumed its nuclear activities. The operation, called “Operation Epic Fury", targeted multiple Iranian cities, including the capital, Tehran.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei was killed in the joint US-Israel strikes on Tehran while he was at his compound. His daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter were also killed in the attack.
Source: World News in news18.com, World Latest News, World News
