US EditionIsrael, Iran trade more blows, Iranian president draws criticism at home for apology
President Pezeshkian's apology for regional attacks triggered a hardliner backlash, revealing leadership fractures amid chaotic missile strikes after the supreme leader's death.
- On Saturday, March 7, 2026, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologised on state media, saying `I personally apologize to neighbouring countries that were affected by Iran's actions`, but omitted the apology on social media.
- Amid intense external strikes, the interim council including Pezeshkian agreed to suspend attacks on nearby states, prompting de-escalation gestures amid a leadership vacuum after Khamenei's death.
- Hardline cleric Hamid Rasai called Pezeshkian's stance `unprofessional, weak and unacceptable`, and Raja News described it as `begging diplomacy`, urging to `take the microphone away` from him.
- The episode has revealed visible fractures within Iran's ruling elite as hardliners, including judiciary chief Ayatollah Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, pushed retaliatory strikes, and senior ayatollahs urged the Assembly of Experts to speed leadership selection.
- Meanwhile, the regional war has spilled into neighbouring states and markets as U.S.-Israeli strikes killed at least 1,332 Iranian civilians, Iranian attacks killed 10 in Israel and six U.S. service members, and Gulf output cuts disrupted flights.
29 Articles
29 Articles
A promise from Iran's President Peseshkian kept only a few hours. The criticism of Iranian hardliners followed new attacks on Riyadh and the United Arab Emirates.
Pezeshkian’s Apology to Neighbors Triggers Backlash in Iran
An apology by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to neighboring countries for attacks that struck parts of their territories - and his pledge to halt such strikes unless their soil is used to attack Iran - has triggered sharp political debate within Tehran’s ruling establishment. Lawmakers swiftly condemned the remarks, while military and judicial officials reiterated that US and Israeli interests across the region would remain legitimate targe…
During a television speech, he said he wanted to apologize to the neighbouring countries affected by Iranian attacks and announced that Iran intends to suspend military operations against the states of the region.
In an attempt to express indignation between the Gulf States, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologized yesterday for the shootings of missiles and drones against his territory, claiming that if they were not the source of attacks against Iran, they would not be meant to be cut off. In a television statement he also requested regional cooperation to “ establish peace and peace”. However, the summit was not of consensus, stating that the req…
Amid the conflict, signs of rift within Iran's ruling establishment have emerged. President Masoud Pezeshkian's apology to Gulf countries and his promise not to attack have angered the hard-line camp. Meanwhile, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards continued their attacks, highlighting the growing conflict within the regime.
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