Israel and Iran exchange fire, Pezeshkian apologises to neighbours
- Iran to suspend strikes on neighbours unless attacks from them
- Trumps demands Tehran’s ‘unconditional surrender’
- Putin calls for immediate halt to Iran conflict
- Iran envoy says 1,332 Iranian civilians killed in war
BEIRUT/WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM, March 7 (Reuters) – Israel and Iran traded attacks on Saturday as the war entered its second week, while Tehran issued an apology to neighbouring states for its “actions”, in an apparent bid to ease regional anger at Iranian strikes on Gulf Arab civilian targets.
The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran has already spilled beyond Iran’s borders, as Tehran has responded by hitting Israel and Gulf Arab states hosting U.S. military installations and Israel has attacked Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah armed group.
The UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have all reported drone and missile attacks over the past week.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran’s temporary leadership council had approved suspending attacks on nearby countries – unless an attack on Iran came from those nations.
“I personally apologise to neighbouring countries that were affected by Iran’s actions,” he said.
How far Pezeshkian’s statement reflects a decision to back off by Iran, or why, is not yet clear, with some strikes still reportedly directed at Gulf states on Saturday morning.
Iran had mended fences with its Gulf neighbours in recent years, including with former regional arch rival Saudi Arabia – a diplomatic campaign that imploded as the Revolutionary Guards launched a blitz of drones and missiles over the past week.
Gulf states voiced immediate outrage that their civilian infrastructure – hotels, ports and oil facilities – were struck despite their having had no part in the U.S.-Israeli attacks.
DIPLOMATIC PROSPECTS FOR EARLY END TO WAR APPEAR BLEAK
While Gulf states host U.S. military bases, they had told Washington they would not allow these to be used for any attacks on Iran.
Iran’s apparent strategy of maximum chaos has driven up the costs of the conflict by raising energy prices, hurting global business and logistics links and shaking trust in the stability of a critical region for the world’s economy.
It is too soon to say whether Pezeshkian’s comments mean Iran has decided to curtail that strategy in deference to future ties with Gulf neighbours, or if they should be read as a warning that Tehran remains ready to strike across the region.
Pezeshkian’s remarks come as diplomatic prospects for an end to hostilities appear bleak, with U.S. President Donald Trump demanding Tehran’s “unconditional surrender”.00:52As war spreads, airline pilots contend with drones, missilesSkip Ad
“There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Friday.
“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,” he added.
The U.S.-Israeli attacks have killed at least 1,332 Iranian civilians and wounded thousands, according to Iran’s U.N. ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani.
Iranian attacks have killed 11 people in Israel, and at least six U.S. service members have been killed.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to Pezeshkian over the numerous civilian casualties resulting from “the armed Israeli-American aggression against Iran” and called for an immediate halt to hostilities, the Kremlin said.
