Iran’s judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei on Saturday said Tehran will continue to target regional neighbours that are allegedly helping its enemies, warning that heavy attacks on such targets will persist.

His remarks came hours after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian made an unusual apology to neighbouring states for the recent attacks, apparently seeking to calm regional anger at Iranian strikes on Gulf civilian targets. The Chief Justice’s remarks underscored the cracks within the Iranian leadership over its retaliatory campaign.

Mohseni-Ejei, who is a member of the interim leadership council that was formed after the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, vowed to continue targeting regional neighbours, as per reports.

“Evidence from Iran’s armed forces shows that the geography of some countries in the region is openly and covertly at the disposal of the enemy," he said. “The heavy attacks on these targets will continue."

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He also emphasised that this strategy is currently being implemented and that the government and other pillars of the establishment are in full agreement on the matter.

These remarks came after Pezeshkian issued a video message apologising to neighbouring countries, stating that the Iranian armed forces would no longer attack these nations.

“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.

However, US President Donald Trump cast Iran’s apology as a surrender, while saying the country would be “hit very hard" on Saturday. Pezeshkian’s office reiterated that Iran’s military would respond firmly to attacks from US bases in the region.

Hamid Rasai, a hardline Iranian cleric and lawmaker, criticised Pezeshkian for his apology. “Mr Pezeshkian, your ​stance was unprofessional, weak and unacceptable," he said on X, adding that the Assembly of Experts must announce the end of the Interim Leadership Council’s activities by introducing the next Leader.

Source: World News in news18.com, World Latest News, World News