TEHRAN: Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian declared that Iran would never surrender to Israel and the United States, as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East entered its second week.
The statement came amid escalating tensions following recent military strikes and retaliatory attacks across the region.
Pezeshkian strongly rejected calls for Iran’s unconditional surrender. He stated that Iran’s adversaries should abandon such expectations.
“Those who wish for the unconditional surrender of the Iranian people must take that wish to their graves,” Pezeshkian said, focusing on that the Iranian nation would resist external pressure and threats.
The conflict intensified after Israeli and US forces launched strikes on Iran on February 28. The attacks resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, an event that significantly heightened tensions and triggered widespread reactions across the region.
Iran has responded with missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and United States interests in several countries, particularly in the Gulf region. T
Iran established an interim leadership structure to manage state affairs. President Pezeshkian is currently serving as one of the three members of the interim leadership council overseeing the country during this transitional period.
Pezeshkian also issued an apology to neighboring countries affected by Iran’s recent military actions. He acknowledged that some regional states had been impacted by Iranian strikes and stressed that Iran does not intend to escalate tensions with neighboring nations.
“I must apologize on my own behalf and on behalf of Iran to the neighboring countries that were attacked by Iran,” he said during the televised speech.
The Iranian president further announced that the interim leadership council had decided to limit future military actions.
“The interim leadership council agreed yesterday that no more attacks will be made on neighboring countries, and no missiles will be fired unless an attack on Iran originates from those countries,” Pezeshkian said.
