US President Donald Trump said Iran’s apology to neighbouring countries in the Middle East on Saturday came only because of the relentless attacks by the United States and Israel.
His remarks came after Iran’s President, Masoud Pezeshkian, said Tehran would no longer target the Gulf countries unless attacks on Iran originate from their territories. Pezeshkian also apologised to those countries for the strikes that took place in recent days.
“Iran, which is being beat to HELL, has apologized and surrendered to its Middle East neighbors, and promised that it will not shoot at them anymore,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “This promise was only made because of the relentless U.S. and Israeli attack,” he claimed.
Trump further alleged that Tehran had been attempting to take control of the Middle East and said it was the first time in “thousands of years” that Iran had lost to its surrounding countries.
“They have said, ‘Thank you, President Trump’, I have said, ‘You’re welcome,’” he added.
Trump also said Iran was no longer the “bully of the Middle East” but had instead become “the loser of the Middle East.”
The president warned that Iran could continue to face heavy attacks and that more officials in Tehran might become targets in the conflict.
“Under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death, because of Iran’s bad behavior, are areas and groups of people that were not considered for targeting up until this moment in time,” he wrote.
Earlier in the day, the Islamic Republic issued an unusual apology to neighbouring states for its “actions,” apparently seeking to calm regional anger over Iranian strikes on civilian targets in Gulf countries.
“I personally apologise to neighbouring countries that were affected by Iran’s actions,” President Pezeshkian said.
