Iranian President apologises to Gulf nations as Trump vows to hit Iran ‘very hard’
The iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, apologised to neighbouring states and said Tehran would not attack them “unless attacked first. ” President Trump vowed to hit Iran “very hard” today (ET), and the US military is considering new targets in the country. At the same time, Israel says it has begun a new “broad wave” of strikes in Iran and the HMS Prince of Wales has been placed on advanced readiness to sail from Portsmouth.
Iranian President apology and regional signals
Masoud Pezeshkian’s apology to neighbouring states stands out as a direct outreach amid escalating strikes and threats. He explicitly said Tehran would not strike neighbours unless it was struck first, framing the statement as defensive restraint rather than offensive provocation. Iran’s ambassador to the UK said there was a “willingness” not to strike neighbours but that the country would defend itself, signaling a conditional posture that may shape immediate regional reactions.
U. S. threats and Israeli operations
President Trump vowed to hit Iran “very hard, ” and US military planners are said to be considering new targets inside Iran. Those public commitments escalate pressure on Tehran as Israel reports a new “broad wave” of strikes inside Iran and has completed additional strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon. The combination of US threats and Israeli action places competing pressures on regional actors and raises questions about how apologies and defensive statements will translate into restraint on the ground.
Naval readiness and military posture
The HMS Prince of Wales has been placed on advanced readiness to sail from Portsmouth, with the carrier’s crew told to be ready to leave in five days instead of the previous 14-day notice. Defence sources note this change increases the ship’s readiness and may prompt deployment considerations to the Mediterranean. The Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon has been deployed to the region but will not be ready to leave port until next week. A Ministry of Defence spokesperson confirmed the change in status for the carrier.
Across Tehran, one resident described daily life as being shaped by the strikes and said it was difficult to imagine a normal future while the city was under fire. The widening set of military moves — vocal US threats, Israeli strikes inside Iran, defensive declarations from Tehran and raised naval readiness — creates a dense, fast-moving picture of a region on edge.
What happens next
Expect rapid developments as militaries and governments react to the latest statements and actions. Diplomatic signals like the iranian president’s apology and the ambassador’s expression of “willingness” not to strike neighbours will be tested against operational decisions from the United States, Israel and regional forces. Naval movements and readiness changes will be watched closely for signs of escalation or de-escalation, and officials have signalled they are preparing for further contingencies. Further public statements from named officials and formal institutional moves will determine whether tensions unwind or intensify.
