'I apologise...': Iran President Pezeshkian expresses regret for attacking neighbours amid war with Israel and US

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, on day eight of the Iran war (Saturday, Mar 7) with the US and Israel, apologised to neighbouring countries for attacking them. In a speech broadcast by Iranian state TV, Pezeshkian said, “I apologise... to the neighbouring countries that were attacked by Iran”. He also said that Tehran would not attack a neighbour unless first attacked by them. Pezeshkian also rubbished US President Donald Trump's warning about an “unconditional surrender” and insisted, Iran's enemies “must take their wish for the unconditional surrender of the Iranian people to their graves.”

Tehran vows not to attack neighbours

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said Saturday that the country's neighbours will not be targeted unless attacks are launched from them during the war with Israel and the United States. Apologising for the attacks during the first week of the US-Israel-Iran war, he said, “I must apologise on my own behalf and on behalf of Iran to the neighbouring countries that were attacked by Iran.”

He noted that the decision was taken by the leadership council, which has been leading the nation since last week's killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. "The interim leadership council agreed yesterday that no more attacks will be made on neighbouring countries and no missiles will be fired unless an attack on Iran originates from those countries," he said.

Which neighbours did Iran attack?

As of March 7, 2026, as the United States and Israel continue their joint military strikes under Operation Epic Fury and Operation Lion's Roar, Tehran's retaliatory strikes have targeted numerous neighbouring countries, particularly those hosting US military assets. These include direct drone and missile strikes on Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Iraq.

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