TEHRAN — In a defiant televised address to the nation, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned the United States that Iran will never agree to an “unconditional surrender,” while simultaneously seeking to de-escalate tensions with its Middle Eastern neighbours. The address, delivered on Saturday, follows a period of intense military exchanges and a hardline diplomatic ultimatum from US President Donald Trump.
Pezeshkian’s remarks were a direct rebuttal to President Trump’s recent declaration that no deal would be reached with Iran unless the regime capitulated entirely. “As for the idea of us surrendering unconditionally, they must take such a dream to their graves,” Pezeshkian stated, accusing the US and its allies of disregarding international law by targeting civilian infrastructure, including schools and hospitals. He called on the Iranian people to unite in the defence of their “water, soil, and land,” asserting that the nation is prepared to face the current crisis with pride rather than submission.
In a notable shift in rhetoric, the Iranian President issued an apology to Gulf nations for recent attacks that reached their soil. He announced that Iran’s temporary leadership council has instructed the armed forces to cease all missile fire and strikes against neighbouring countries, provided those nations do not launch attacks against Iran. Pezeshkian emphasized that Iran views its neighbours as “brothers” and urged them to resolve regional differences through diplomacy rather than becoming “puppets” or “playthings” of Western imperialism and Israel.
Despite the diplomatic overtures toward the Gulf, the military conflict between Iran and Israel continues to intensify. On Friday night, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted a massive aerial operation involving over 80 fighter jets and 230 bombs. The strikes targeted several key military sites in Tehran and central Iran, including a subterranean ballistic missile production factory and a military academy. The IDF characterized the underground facility as a critical hub for the Iranian regime’s “terror” operations.
In immediate retaliation, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) launched the 23rd wave of “Operation True Promise 4.” The IRGC claimed to have deployed new-generation missile systems capable of striking multiple targets simultaneously, aiming at locations within the “occupied territories” and US military bases across the region. As both sides continue to exchange heavy fire, the Iranian leadership’s dual strategy of defiance against the West and reconciliation with the Arab world marks a critical and volatile juncture in the expanding regional war.
