Iran apologises to Gulf neigbhours as war still rages across region

Israel and Iran traded attacks as the Middle East war entered a second week yesterday, while Tehran made an unusual apology to neighbouring states for its “actions”, apparently seeking to calm regional anger at Iranian strikes on Gulf civilian targets.

“I personally apologise to neighbouring countries that were affected by Iran’s actions,” ‌Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said, urging them not to join US-Israeli attacks on Iran.

He dismissed President Donald Trump’s demand for the Islamic Republic’s unconditional surrender as “a dream”, but said its temporary leadership council had agreed to suspend attacks on nearby states unless strikes on Iran originated from their territory.

Hours after Pezeshkian’s announcement, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said their drones struck a U.S. air combat centre at Al Dhafra Air Base, near Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates.

Reuters could not independently verify that report.

Huge explosions were heard in several parts of the Iranian capital, state media reported.

The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran has already spilled beyond Iran’s borders as Tehran has responded by hitting Israel and Gulf Arab states hosting U.S. military installations and Israel has launched fresh attacks in Lebanon after the Iran-aligned militia Hezbollah ⁠fired across the border.

Gulf states voiced outrage that their civilian infrastructure – hotels, ports and oil facilities – were struck despite their having had no part in the US-Israeli attacks.

The UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Iraq have all reported drone or missile attacks over the past week. Yesterday, the UAE defence ministry said that it destroyed 15 ballistic missiles and intercepted 119 drones from Iran.

Emirates airline briefly suspended flights to and from Dubai yesterday, and Dubai authorities cited a “minor” incident resulting from a fall of debris after an interception, without saying where the incident happened. Emirates later said it would resume flights.

How far Pezeshkian’s statement reflects a decision to back off by Iran, or if it should be read as a warning that Tehran remains ready to strike across the region, is not yet clear.

Iran had mended fences with its Gulf neighbours in recent years, including with former regional arch-rival Saudi Arabia.

Iran’s apparent strategy of maximum chaos has driven up the costs of the conflict by raising energy prices, hurting global business and logistics links and shaking trust in the stability of a critical region for the world’s economy.

Pezeshkian’s remarks come as diplomatic prospects for an end to hostilities appear bleak, with Trump demanding Tehran’s “unconditional surrender”.

“There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Friday.

The US-Israeli attacks have killed at least 1,332 Iranian civilians and wounded thousands, according to Iran’s UN ambassador, ‌Amir Saeid Iravani.