In the first major signal of de-escalation in the ongoing regional conflict, Masoud Pezeshkian, the President of Iran, has apologised to neighbouring countries and announced that Tehran will suspend missile strikes against them unless attacks on Iran originate from their territory.
The decision was taken by Iran’s interim leadership council and is seen as an attempt to ease tensions in the region following the recent escalation triggered by joint strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran last weekend. The strikes reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei along with hundreds of others.
According to reports by Reuters and Agence France-Presse (AFP), Pezeshkian confirmed on Saturday that the temporary leadership council had approved the suspension of attacks on neighbouring states.
“I must apologise on my own behalf and on behalf of Iran to the neighbouring countries that were attacked by Iran,” Pezeshkian said, according to AFP.
However, the Iranian president also made it clear that Tehran would not surrender to Israel or the United States.
“The enemies must take their wish for the surrender of the Iranian people to their graves,” Pezeshkian said in a speech broadcast on state television.
Explosions reported in parts of Gulf
The statement came as tensions remained high across parts of the Gulf region. Cities including Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates reported explosions, missile alerts and air-raid sirens as defence systems intercepted drones and missiles believed to be part of Iran’s retaliation to the US-Israel strikes.
Operations at Dubai International Airport were temporarily suspended on Saturday following what officials described as a “minor incident”.
The Dubai Media Office said in a statement that operations were halted “for the safety of passengers, airport staff and airline crew”.
“Operations at Dubai International (DXB) have been temporarily suspended,” the statement said, without providing details. Passengers reportedly heard a loud boom while sheltering at the airport.
Rising toll from the conflict
The US-Israel strikes on Iran, which began on February 28, and Tehran’s subsequent retaliation have triggered a broader regional crisis. Airspace closures across the Gulf have forced thousands of flight cancellations, while missiles and drones have targeted US bases and other facilities in countries including Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.
Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes have continued airstrikes on targets in Tehran and in Lebanon.
According to a report by Associated Press citing officials, the conflict has so far killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, more than 200 in Lebanon, and around a dozen in Israel. Six US troops have also reportedly been killed.
Despite the latest conciliatory statement from Tehran, the region remains on edge as the conflict continues to unfold.
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