Masoud Pezeshkian Orders Halt to Strikes on Neighbours as War Intensifies
masoud pezeshkian, Iran’s president, said on Saturday (ET) that neighbouring countries will no longer be targeted unless an attack originates from their territory. He apologised for recent strikes on Gulf and regional states and said the Iranian interim leadership council approved the motion on Friday (ET). The announcement arrives as the United States and Israel continue strikes on Iran and regional air defences and civilian transport face major disruption.
Masoud Pezeshkian: apology and policy shift
Masoud Pezeshkian framed the move as a restraint measure, apologising for the strikes that hit Gulf Cooperation Council nations and other neighbours. The president said the interim leadership council approved the change in posture on Friday (ET), and he tied the policy to a clear condition: Iran will halt attacks on neighbouring countries so long as no attacks originate from them.
The statement follows days of sustained exchange in which Iran launched retaliatory strikes at states hosting US assets and in which Israel and the United States have kept up air strikes targeting Iranian infrastructure. The president described a US demand for Iran’s “unconditional surrender” as a non-starter, calling it a “dream that they should to take to their grave. ”
Immediate reactions from regional officials and leaders
Saad al-Kaabi, Qatar’s Energy Minister, warned that exports from the Gulf region could come to a halt “within weeks” if the war continues to escalate, stressing the risk to global energy supplies. Prince Khalid bin Salman, Saudi defence minister, urged Iran to “avoid miscalculation” after missile and drone launches in the region. US President Donald Trump demanded an “unconditional surrender” from Iran; Masoud Pezeshkian rejected that demand in his address.
The conflict has already produced deadly results and broad disruption. The only US fatalities so far came when Iran attacked a US command centre in Kuwait, killing six. More than 1, 200 Iranians have been killed in US-Israeli strikes in the first week of the war, and at least 1, 332 people have been reported killed in US-Israeli attacks on Iran since the launch of the war on February 28.
Background and what’s next
The exchanges have involved strikes across the Gulf and beyond, hitting Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman, and affecting Iraq, Jordan, Azerbaijan and Turkiye. In the Gulf, attacks have caused deaths, damage, flight disruptions, airspace closures and significant impacts on oil and gas production. Israeli military officials have said they have plans for further operations, and there have been missile launches and defensive activations in multiple capitals.
Looking ahead, diplomats and mediators already engaged in the region will likely intensify efforts to prevent further escalation while military commands on all sides prepare for continued operations. masoud pezeshkian’s pledge to halt strikes on neighbours unless fired upon will be tested by any future cross-border incidents, and regional energy and transport systems remain vulnerable as leaders monitor developments closely.
