On the 7th, at Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran, Iran, smoke and flames rise immediately after the air raid. AFP

On the 7th (local time), Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologized to Gulf states that were harmed as Iran retaliated against the United States and Israel, and declared that attacks would be halted.

According to foreign media including AFP and AP, in a state TV address that day President Pezeshkian said, “The interim leadership council has approved a proposal to halt attacks on these countries as long as neighboring countries do not attack Iran.” He then stressed his apology, adding, “We have no hostility toward countries in the region (the Middle East).”

After coming under attack by the United States and Israel, Iran has struck U.S. military facilities and other targets in Gulf countries such as Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). During this process, civilian harm has mounted, and criticism has grown. Iran has repeatedly emphasized that it targeted U.S. assets, such as American bases located in these areas, rather than the Gulf countries themselves.

There is also analysis that Iran’s step to halt attacks on Gulf states was made with an eye on the Gulf states’ moves toward military responses and Europe’s provision of military support. As damage has mounted, Gulf states that became primary targets of Iran’s concentrated attacks, including the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain, are even considering the possibility of a military response. Major European countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy, have already formalized military support for U.S. forces and the Gulf region, citing the protection of their nationals and military bases.

Regarding the U.S. demand for ‘unconditional surrender’, President Pezeshkian dismissed it, saying, “Our enemies will have to carry to their graves their wish for the surrender of the Iranian people.”

U.S. President Donald Trump said on social media the previous day, “There will be no agreement with Iran other than ‘unconditional surrender’,” pressing Iran.