Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian sent a video message of apology to neighboring countries, in which he announced that they would not be attacked again. But at the same time he set conditions.
"I want to apologize on behalf of the neighboring countries that were attacked by Iran," said Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian in a speech broadcast on state television. "From now on, the Iranian armed forces will not attack neighboring countries and launch missiles at them. Unless we are attacked by these countries," he immediately added.
Improvised recording
The recording seems improvised and not very well directed. The Iranian president is dressed informally, with a houseplant next to him, and an old photo of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and a small Iranian flag on the other side.
Pezeshkian suggested that misunderstandings within his own ranks were the cause of the drone and missile attacks on the immediate neighbors. “These incidents were the result of the chaotic situation after the deaths of several high-ranking commanders, when the armed forces were without leadership and had to act independently.“ The president called the dead “heroes“ who defended their homeland “with pride and strength“.
The decision not to attack the neighboring countries in the Persian Gulf was made on Friday by the Transitional Council, the president said. However, on Saturday morning - shortly before the video message was broadcast - new attacks were carried out on Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard, which is on the front lines of the war, reports only to the country's supreme leader, not to the Iranian president.
Attacks despite announced end to attacks
According to the Tasnim news agency, after Pezeshkian's video message, the Revolutionary Guards stated that, in accordance with the president's instructions, they would respect the interests and national sovereignty of neighboring countries. However, all US and Israeli military bases on land, sea and air in the region would continue to be considered primary targets.