Doha, 07 March 2026

Iran’s president has publicly rejected a demand from the United States for unconditional surrender while simultaneously apologizing for Iranian strikes on neighbouring countries, as the regional conflict continues to intensify and spread across multiple fronts.

In a prerecorded address broadcast on state television, President Masoud Pezeshkian dismissed Washington’s call for Iran to surrender, describing it as unrealistic. He said the idea was nothing more than a “dream” that the United States should abandon, signalling Tehran’s unwillingness to bow to pressure despite the ongoing military campaign against it.

At the same time, the Iranian leader struck a conciliatory tone toward countries in the region that Iranian missiles and drones had recently targeted. Speaking directly to those nations, Pezeshkian offered an apology and said such attacks should not continue unless Iran itself is attacked first. He indicated that Tehran prefers a diplomatic path to resolving disputes, emphasising that neighbouring states should no longer be targeted.

The president also suggested that recent strikes on nearby countries may have resulted from confusion within Iran’s military command structure. According to his remarks, the death of several senior leaders, including the country’s supreme leader, had disrupted coordination among Iran’s armed forces. He noted that the country’s interim three-member leadership council had since been in contact with military commanders in an effort to restore order and prevent further unintended attacks.

The comments come at a time when fighting between Iran, Israel, and the United States shows no sign of easing. Israeli and American forces have continued a series of airstrikes across Iran, targeting military infrastructure, leadership figures, and elements of the country’s nuclear program. Explosions and plumes of smoke were reported over parts of western Tehran as Israel said it had begun a new wave of strikes.

Meanwhile, officials in Washington have warned that the military campaign may soon escalate further. The U.S. administration recently approved a new arms sale to Israel worth $151 million. In media interviews, senior American officials indicated that an even larger bombing campaign could be launched in the coming days, potentially becoming the most intense phase of the conflict so far.

As the war widens, its human cost continues to climb. Authorities in the affected countries say the fighting has killed more than 1,200 people in Iran, over 200 in Lebanon, and around a dozen in Israel. Six U.S. service members have also been reported killed during the conflict.

The violence has also begun to affect other countries across the Gulf region. Iran launched attacks early Saturday that triggered air-raid sirens in Bahrain, while Saudi Arabia reported intercepting drones heading toward the Shaybah oil field and shooting down a ballistic missile aimed at Prince Sultan Air Base, where U.S. forces are stationed.

With multiple nations now drawn into the crisis and energy markets reacting to the instability, analysts warn that the conflict could have far-reaching consequences not only for the Middle East but for the global economy as well.

Turkish Official News Agency Anadolu referred US social media X, the Saudi Defense Ministry said it had intercepted and destroyed two drones east of the capital, Riyadh, 21 drones were intercepted in the Empty Quarter desert after attempting to attack the Shaybah oil field in the country’s southeast.

The ministry also said it intercepted and destroyed three ballistic missiles launched toward Prince Sultan Air Base in the Al-Kharj province, southeast of the capital Riyadh.

The ministry did not specify the source of the drones or missiles, though the incident coincides with Iranian attacks targeting sites in several Arab countries.

Tehran says the attacks came in response to a US-Israeli military campaign against Iran that has killed hundreds of people, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and top military officials.