Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared on Saturday (Mar 7) that Iran will not bow to pressure from the United States and Israel, pushing back firmly against US President Donald Trump’s demand for complete capitulation from Tehran.
Speaking through a pre-recorded video message aired on state television, Pezeshkian struck a defiant tone while also extending an olive branch to Iran’s neighbours, pledging that Tehran would not strike them unless provoked.
Iran’s enemies “must take their wish for the unconditional surrender of the Iranian people to their graves,” Pezeshkian said.
On the matter of regional tensions, the Iranian president offered a rare acknowledgment of responsibility. “I must apologise on my own behalf and on behalf of Iran to the neighbouring countries that were attacked by Iran,” he added. “The interim leadership council agreed yesterday that no more attacks will be made on neighbouring countries and no missiles will be fired unless an attack on Iran originates from those countries.”
The statement follows a sharp escalation in rhetoric from Washington. On Friday (Mar 6), Trump took to his Truth Social platform to issue a stark ultimatum, writing: “There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER! After that, and the selection of a GREAT & ACCEPTABLE Leader(s), we, and many of our wonderful and very brave allies and partners, will work tirelessly to bring Iran back from the brink of destruction, making it economically bigger, better, and stronger than ever before.”
The crisis was set in motion on February 28, when US and Israeli forces carried out coordinated strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and a number of senior Iranian officials. The US military dubbed the operation “Epic Fury,” while Israel named it “Lion’s Roar.” The strikes followed months of rising tensions over Iran’s nuclear programme. Tehran responded by launching retaliatory attacks against Israel and several US military installations across the region, hitting bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan.
Khamenei’s death was officially confirmed on March 1. Iranian authorities vowed severe retaliation and warned that any US military bases in the region would be considered legitimate targets equivalent to American soil. Gulf states have urged restraint and called for de-escalation, even as Washington and Tel Aviv have signalled that military operations may continue for weeks.
The conflict has since broadened, with Iran-aligned proxy groups entering the fight. World leaders have been divided in their response — some condemning the US-led military action outright, while the majority of NATO allies have expressed support for Washington’s position.
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