Iran President signals conditions for ending the war as regional warnings sharpen
Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian said any decision to end the war with the US and Israel must “guarantee the security and interests of the Iranian people, ” as regional escalations continue and Tehran issues renewed warnings to neighboring countries hosting US military bases.
What happens when Iran President ties an end-of-war decision to “security and interests”?
Speaking during a cabinet meeting, Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian framed the question of ending the conflict around guarantees for the Iranian public. He said the “resistance shown by the army, ” alongside “national unity shown by the Iranian people during the war, ” were among the most important factors that helped the country overcome what he described as current critical circumstances.
Pezeshkian also highlighted the importance of “pro-government demonstrations” in various cities, describing public gatherings as valuable and saying Iran “inspires freedom fighters. ” The comments came as the conflict continues after the US and Israel launched an offensive against Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 1, 340 people to date, including then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
What if neighboring states ignore Iran’s warning about operations launched from their land?
Pezeshkian issued a direct appeal to countries in the region not to allow their territory to be used in the US-Israeli war, describing this as a repeated warning to states hosting United States military bases. In a public message, he said Iran does not carry out preemptive attacks, but would “retaliate strongly” if its infrastructure or economic centers are targeted. He urged neighboring countries that want “development and security” not to let Tehran’s “enemies run the war” from their lands.
The warning fits a broader line from Iran’s leadership. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged countries around Iran to distance themselves from the United States, as the war continues with no sign of ending and with Israel announcing more intense strikes on Iran on an almost daily basis while Tehran continues to target its archrival and countries with US military assets in the Middle East.
What happens when cross-border strikes hit aviation, ports, and economic zones?
In Kuwait, multiple drone attacks early on Saturday targeted the country’s international airport and caused significant damage to its radar system, with no casualties. The Civil Aviation Authority spokesperson, cited by the state news agency Kuna, said the attack was carried out by Iran, its proxies, and the armed factions it supports.
In Abu Dhabi, strikes caused debris to fall near the Khalifa Economic Zone close to Khalifa Port, injuring six people and damaging facilities, the Emirate’s media office said. It added that fires that started because of falling debris were under control.
Iran’s military claimed it struck a Ukrainian anti-drone system depot in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, alleging it supported US forces and was also allegedly targeted. The claim was attributed to Ebrahim Zolfaghari, a spokesperson for Iran’s military. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry denied the claim.
In Oman, two drones targeted the port of Salalah in southern Dhofar province, injuring one person and causing minor damage to a crane, as stated by the state news agency ONA.
Beyond immediate casualties and infrastructure damage, the conflict has disrupted global markets and aviation, adding pressure for clarity on how escalation might be contained and under what conditions de-escalation could be pursued.
For now, Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian is publicly setting out two parallel messages: a condition-based framework for ending the war tied to guarantees for the Iranian people, and a warning to neighboring states not to enable military operations against Iran from their territory.
