President Pezeshkian apologies for regional strikes while rejecting unconditional surrender as war enters second week

Iran’s President apologizes for regional strikes and announces a new "no-first-strike" policy for neighbors while rejecting U.S. demands for surrender.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 7, 2026, 3:42 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from TRT World

Apology to Neighboring Sovereign Nations

In a significant diplomatic shift during a televised address on Saturday, President Masoud Pezeshkian offered a formal apology to neighboring countries that have been impacted by Iranian military actions. Speaking on behalf of himself and the nation, Pezeshkian expressed regret for the strikes carried out across the region since the conflict began. He attributed these incidents to the volatile circumstances following the start of the war and sought to reassure regional partners that Iran does not intend to maintain an offensive posture against its immediate neighbors.

New Defense Policy of the Interim Council

The president detailed a specific resolution reached on Friday by Iran’s interim leadership council, which has governed the country since the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on February 28. The council has officially agreed to halt all missile and drone attacks on neighboring territories. Under this new directive, the Iranian armed forces are prohibited from firing upon these nations unless an attack against Iran is launched directly from those specific countries. This policy is intended to reduce regional friction while maintaining a retaliatory capability against direct threats.

Rejection of Unconditional Surrender Demands

Despite the conciliatory tone toward neighboring states, Pezeshkian maintained a stance of total defiance toward the United States and Israel. He addressed recent calls for an unconditional surrender, stating that the enemies of Iran must take such wishes to their graves. The president emphasized that the Iranian people and their leadership would not capitulate as the conflict enters its second week. This rhetoric follows a series of intensified strikes by U.S. and Israeli forces that have targeted Iranian military infrastructure and high ranking leadership.