Iran defies US demands for surrender but apologises for strikes on neighbours

President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran would halt attacks on regional nations, but intense Iranian fire has still been targeting Gulf states4-MIN READ4-MIN2 ListenPublished: 6:18pm, 7 Mar 2026Updated: 6:36pm, 7 Mar 2026Iran’s president said on Saturday that a demand by the United States for an unconditional surrender is a “dream that they should take to their grave”.President Masoud Pezeshkian made the statement in a pre-recorded address aired by state television.He also apologised for Iran’s attacks on regional countries, saying that Tehran would halt them and suggesting they were caused by miscommunication in the ranks.He blamed the killing of the country’s supreme leader and other top officials for what sounded like a loss of command and control in the armed forces in recent days.The comments came as intense Iranian fire targeted the Gulf Arab states early on Saturday while Israel and the United States kept up their air strikes targeting the Islamic Republic. Sri Lanka rescues Iranian sailors after US torpedo sinks frigateSri Lanka rescues Iranian sailors after US torpedo sinks frigatePezeshkian’s statement on Saturday said the country’s three-man leadership council had been in touch with the armed forces over the attacks.