Iran’s president expresses regret over strikes on neighbors, while missiles and drones continue hitting cities
Iran’s president issued an apology Saturday for attacks on neighboring countries even as missiles and drones continued striking Gulf Arab states, highlighting fractures in Tehran’s control over its military forces. President Masoud Pezeshkian, part of a three-person leadership council governing Iran after a Feb. 28 airstrike killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, acknowledged the strikes while rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s repeated demands for unconditional surrender. His statement came amid a conflict that has spread across the region, disrupted global markets and air travel, and left Iran’s leadership weakened by hundreds of U.S. and Israeli airstrikes.
Pezeshkian’s message, seemingly recorded hastily, underscored the limited authority the council exercises over the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which controls ballistic missiles targeting Israel and other nations. Hours earlier, waves of Iranian missiles and drones disrupted flights at Dubai International Airport, targeted Saudi oil facilities, and prompted people in Bahrain to seek cover. Trump responded on social media, warning that more Iranian officials would become targets, stating that certain areas and groups were “under serious consideration for complete destruction” due to Iran’s actions.
The Iranian president attempted to calm Gulf states, calling for diplomacy and saying attacks on neighbors should stop unless provoked. Yet, confusion persisted after armed forces spokesman Gen. Abolfazl Shekarchi contradicted him, claiming attacks did not hit countries that allowed U.S. operations from their territory. Political tensions escalated further as Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi urged Iran’s Assembly of Experts to quickly appoint a new supreme leader, noting that airstrikes had hit buildings associated with the 88-member clerical panel.
Meanwhile, the U.S. authorized a $151 million arms sale to Israel and warned of intensified bombing campaigns. Explosions and smoke were reported in western Tehran as Israel struck Iranian military and nuclear sites. The conflict has killed at least 1,230 in Iran, more than 200 in Lebanon, and 11 in Israel, with six U.S. troops also killed. Missile sirens sounded across Israel, and people headed to shelters as loud booms were heard in Jerusalem.
The war has expanded beyond Israel and Iran. Bahrain activated sirens as Iranian attacks struck the island, and Saudi Arabia intercepted drones and a ballistic missile targeting Prince Sultan Air Base. Dubai saw blasts and temporarily halted flights at its international airport before resuming operations. Iran also docked the naval vessel IRIS Lavan in India after reporting technical issues, while another Iranian warship, IRIS Dena, was sunk by a U.S. submarine off Sri Lanka.
Regional leaders warned of economic repercussions. Qatar’s energy minister, Saad al-Kaabi, predicted the war could disrupt Gulf energy exports and send oil prices soaring above $150 per barrel. Analysts suggested Iran is miscalculating by widening the conflict to Arab neighbors, potentially escalating the war beyond the Israeli-Iranian axis.
Fighting also continued in Lebanon, where Hezbollah militants clashed with Israeli forces in eastern regions. Israeli airstrikes hit southern Beirut, killing at least 16 people and wounding 35 more on Saturday, with over 200 killed and 800 wounded since the beginning of the week. Civilian areas remained heavily affected, highlighting the broad and intensifying scope of the conflict across the Middle East.
Comments
Post a Comment