US-Iran conflict: Shortly after Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian had apologised to its neighbouring countries over recent hostilities with the US and Israel, US President Donald Trump claimed that Iran has effectively ‘lost’ the war, and has been forced to apologise to its Middle East neighbours.

Pezeshkian had signalled a possible de-escalation in the region on Saturday, underscoring that Tehran had no intention of attacking its neighbouring states and had directed its armed forces to avoid launching missiles unless provoked. 

Iran Prez calls neighbouring countries “brothers”

Earlier on Saturday, Iran President Pezeshkian had addressed the neighbouring countries as ‘brothers’ and expressed regret over recent hostilities. He added that the Iranian government had conveyed an apology to the surrounding nations for recent attacks. Furthermore, he clarified that Iran’s military had been ordered not to resort to strikes against neighbouring territories unless Iran itself falls prey to any attack. 

Trump attributes Iran’s apology to pressure from US, Israel

US President Trump responded to the development, saying that the shift in Iran’s tone was due to sustained military pressure from the US and Israel. He also posted a message on the social media platform ‘Truth Social’, which read that Iran had ‘surrendered’ to its Middle Eastern neighbours after facing relentless strikes. He further alleged that Tehran was eyeing domination in the region, but has now been forced to retreat. 

“Iran the loser of Middle East”: President Trump

Doubling down on the criticism, Trump announced that Iran was no longer the ‘bully of the Middle East’, but the ‘loser of the Middle East.’ He also issued a renewed warning, claiming Iran would face brutal strikes on Saturday, if its conduct continues to provoke tensions. “Additional targets that had been spared earlier in Iran would be targeted now,” a statement issued by him read.