Iran’s president has dismissed Donald Trump’s demand for the country’s unconditional surrender as a “dream,” while offering a rare apology for Iranian strikes that hit sites in neighboring Gulf states.
In a prerecorded address aired on state television on Saturday, President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Iran would never surrender, responding to the U.S. president’s remarks from Friday that only Iran’s total submission could end the war.
Pezeshkian declared that Iran’s enemies “must take their dream of the Iranian people’s unconditional surrender to their graves,” further escalating tensions on the eighth day of a conflict that has disrupted global oil supplies and air travel.
Simultaneously, Pezeshkian apologized to neighboring states for Iran’s recent “actions,” in an apparent effort to calm regional anger after Iranian strikes affected civilian targets in Gulf Arab countries.
Iran has responded to attacks on its territory by targeting Israel, as well as Gulf Arab states hosting U.S. military installations. Israel has also launched intense strikes on Lebanon, home to the Iran-backed Hezbollah group.
Over the past week, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia have all reported drone and missile attacks.
Pezeshkian stated that Iran’s temporary leadership council had approved suspending attacks on nearby countries unless an assault on Iran originated from those states. “I personally apologize to neighboring countries that were affected by Iran’s actions,” he said.
It remains unclear whether Pezeshkian’s remarks indicate a broader decision by Tehran to scale back its campaign, or what prompted the apparent shift, with reports suggesting some strikes continued against Gulf states on Saturday morning.
The Iranian president’s speech came as Israel announced a new wave of strikes on Iran, deploying 80 fighter jets in a pre-dawn attack that set fire to one of Tehran’s main airports.
Israeli officials said the targets included a military academy, an underground command center, and a missile storage facility. Photos showed flames and thick smoke rising from Mehrabad International Airport, one of two airports serving the capital.
Iran also retaliated on Saturday. Air raid sirens sounded and explosions were reported over Jerusalem, as well as in Gulf cities including Dubai and Manama. Near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia said it intercepted a ballistic missile aimed at an airbase hosting U.S. military personnel.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps also claimed it targeted the oil tanker Prima in the Gulf as it attempted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow maritime choke point that Iran has effectively closed.
Now in its second week, the war was triggered by joint airstrikes by Israel and the U.S. that killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. Since then, the conflict has rapidly widened, spreading to Lebanon and reaching as far as the eastern Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean.
Iran’s health ministry reported at least 926 civilians killed and about 6,000 injured. Israel has intensified airstrikes in Lebanon, repeatedly targeting the southern suburbs of Beirut.
Lebanon’s health ministry said at least 217 people had been killed, while Prime Minister Nawaf Salam warned of a looming humanitarian disaster. The Norwegian Refugee Council reported that about 300,000 people had fled their homes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Irans dismissal of Trumps call for unconditional surrender framed in a natural tone
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What exactly happened
A former US President Donald Trump publicly called for Iran to surrender unconditionally In response a senior Iranian official dismissed the statement calling it nothing more than a dream or fantasy
2 Who said it was a dream
The comment was made by Nasser Kanaani the spokesperson for Irans Ministry of Foreign Affairs He was speaking on behalf of the Iranian government
3 What does unconditional surrender mean
It means one side demands that its opponent gives up completely without any negotiations promises or guarantees for their future Its the most total form of defeat like at the end of World War II
4 Why is this news
Its significant because it highlights the ongoing deep hostility between the US and Iran A former and potentially future US president made a maximalist demand and Irans outright rejection shows how far apart the two nations are with no diplomatic talks in sight
5 Is this an official US policy
No Donald Trump was speaking as a private citizen and presidential candidate The current US administration has a different approach focusing on diplomacy and deterrence though tensions remain high
Advanced Contextual Questions
6 What is the historical context for this exchange
Relations have been hostile since the 1979 Iranian Revolution Tensions spiked during the Trump administration which withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal and applied a maximum pressure campaign of sanctions Iran sees Trumps rhetoric as a continuation of that failed policy
7 What is Irans likely strategy behind this strong dismissal
Iran aims to project strength and resilience to its domestic audience and regional allies Accepting or even entertaining the idea of surrender is politically impossible for the Iranian leadership The dream framing is meant to portray Trump as delusional and out of touch with geopolitical realities
8 What are the practical implications of this rhetoric
It hardens positions and makes future diplomacy even more difficult It reinforces a cycle of threats and counterthreats increasing the risk of miscalculation or escalation especially in a region already
