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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran’s president apologized Saturday for attacks on “neighboring countries” even as its missiles and drones flew toward Gulf Arab states and U.S. President Donald Trump threatened that the country would be “hit very hard.”
President Masoud Pezeshkian, a member of the three-man leadership council overseeing Iran since Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a Feb. 28 airstrike that started the war, delivered the message a week into the conflict that has rattled global markets and left Iran’s own leadership weakened by hundreds of Israeli and American airstrikes.
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Pezeshkian also dismissed Trump’s call for Iran to surrender unconditionally.
“That’s a dream that they should take to their grave,” he said.
The message, seemingly filmed in a hurry without professional broadcast equipment, underlined the limited powers exercised by the theocracy’s leaders over the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which controls the ballistic missiles targeting Israel and other countries. It answered only to Khamenei and now appears to be picking its own targets.
Shortly after Pezeshkian’s message, Trump warned in a social media post that more Iranian officials would become targets, writing: “Today Iran will be hit very hard!” Trump noted Pezeshkian’s apology.
“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,” Trump wrote, without elaborating.
Just hours earlier, a wave of missiles and drones had disrupted flights at Dubai International Airport, targeted a major Saudi oil facility and sent people fleeing for cover in Bahrain.
Only countries that have attacked Iran will be targeted, Pezeshkian says
Pezeshkian’s statement said Iran’s leadership council had been in touch with the armed forces over the attacks that have involved hundreds of missiles and drones and angered neighbours.
“I should apologize to the neighboring countries that were attacked by Iran, on my own behalf,” the president said.
“From now on, they should not attack neighboring countries or fire missiles at them, unless we are attacked by those countries. I think we should solve this through diplomacy.”
Gen. Abolfazl Shekarchi, Iran’s armed forces spokesman, then added confusion by saying that Tehran has “not hit countries that did not provide space for America to invade our country.”
The U.S. strikes haven’t been coming from the Gulf Arab governments under attack, but from U.S. bases and vessels in the region.
Likely in response to the confusion, prominent cleric Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi on Saturday urged Iran’s Assembly of Experts to act quickly to name a new supreme leader. Buildings associated with the 88-cleric panel have been hit by airstrikes, likely slowing any meeting of it.
U.S. says more intense bombing lies ahead
The Trump administration approved a new $151 million arms sale to Israel after Trump said he would not negotiate with Iran without its “unconditional surrender” and U.S. officials warned of a bombing campaign they said would be the most intense yet.
Associated Press video showed explosions flashing over western Tehran as Israel said it had begun another wave of strikes.
The U.S. and Israel have battered Iran, targeting its military capabilities, leadership and nuclear program. The war’s stated goals and timelines have repeatedly shifted as the U.S. has at times suggested it seeks to topple Iran’s government or elevate new leadership from within.
The fighting has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, more than 200 in Lebanon and 11 in Israel, according to officials in those countries. Six U.S. troops have been killed.
Incoming missiles from Iran had people heading to bomb shelters again across Israel, and booms sounded in Jerusalem. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
Strikes target Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Dubai
Sirens sounded early Saturday in Bahrain as Iran targeted the island kingdom. Saudi Arabia said it destroyed drones headed toward its vast Shaybah oil field and shot down a ballistic missile launched toward Prince Sultan Air Base, which hosts U.S. forces.
In Dubai, several blasts were heard Saturday morning and the government said it had activated air defenses. Passengers waiting for flights at Dubai International Airport found themselves ushered into train tunnels after the alert sounded.
Later, long-haul carrier Emirates said “all flights to and from Dubai have been suspended until further notice.” Shortly afterward, Emirates said the airline would resume operations.Fighting in Lebanon kills dozens
The Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah said its fighters clashed with an Israeli force that landed late Friday in eastern Lebanon’s mountains.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry said Israeli airstrikes on Nabi Chit town and nearby areas left at least 41 people dead and 40 wounded. The Lebanese army said the dead included three of its troops. The area witnessed intense clashes and airstrikes overnight into Saturday.
Israel did not acknowledge the fighting, and its military did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Israel also has carried out waves of airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has a large presence. It is home to hundreds of thousands of civilians.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry says over 200 people have been killed by Israeli strikes since Monday and over 800 wounded.
Hezbollah on Saturday warned residents of northern Israeli towns, and alert sirens sounded near Nahariya, Kiryat Shmona and Tiberias. Israel’s army said it will not evacuate Israelis but defend them by putting soldiers between villages and Hezbollah.
Iranian naval vessel docked in India
India’s foreign minister said Saturday that an Iranian naval vessel has docked in India, speaking after a U.S. submarine sank the Iranian warship IRIS Dena off Sri Lanka’s coast Wednesday.
Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said the IRIS Lavan was moored in the southern city of Kochi after India granted permission when the vessel reported “having problems” Sunday.
“I think it was the humane thing to do,” Jaishankar said.
Another Iranian vessel, the IRIS Bushehr, requested assistance from Sri Lanka, where more than 200 sailors were being brought ashore.
The ships previously took part in naval exercises hosted by India, but Jaishankar said they got “caught on the wrong side of events” once the war began.
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