United States President Donald Trump claimed on Saturday that Iran has ‘lost' and it has “surrendered to Middle East neighbours” and "apologised".
Trumps remarks come just hours after Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian hinted at de-escalation on Saturday and apologised to its neighbouring countries for attacks and added that the country's armed forces have been instructed “not to attack or launch missiles at neighboring countries unless attacked from there.”
Pezeshkian called Iran's neighbouring countries its “brothers” and said, “We have no intention of attacking neighboring countries."
Following this, the US President said that Iran's “promise” of not “shooting” its neighbours was only made possible due to “relentless strikes” by the United States and Israel.
Also read: ‘We apologise’: Iran says won't strike neighbours unless attacked in war with US-Israel
“Iran, which is being beat to HELL, has apologized and surrendered to its Middle East neighbors, and promised that it will not shoot at them anymore. This promise was only made because of the relentless U.S. and Israeli attack,” Trump wrote in a heavily-worded post on Truth Social.
He added that Iran was “looking to take over and rule the Middle East” and that “It is the first time that Iran has ever lost, in thousands of years, to surrounding Middle Eastern Countries.”
{{/usCountry}}He added that Iran was “looking to take over and rule the Middle East” and that “It is the first time that Iran has ever lost, in thousands of years, to surrounding Middle Eastern Countries.”
{{/usCountry}}Track latest news from UAE amid Middle East conflict here
Donald Trump further claimed that after Iran's apology, Middle Eastern countries have thanked him. “They have said, “Thank you President Trump.” I have said, “You’re welcome!”” he said.
‘Loser of Middle East’
Doubling down on Iran, the US President said that the country is no longer the “Bully of the Middle East”, instead it is “THE LOSER OF THE MIDDLE EAST,” in his signature all caps style, adding that Iran will continue to be so “for many decades until they surrender or, more likely, completely collapse!”
Issuing a renewed threat, Trump warned that Iran will be “hit very hard” on Saturday, March 7, and said that areas which were not a targets until now will be attacked because of Iran's “bad behaviour”.
“Today Iran will be hit very hard! 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. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump wrote.
Strikes continue in Middle East
Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian's apology to neighbouring countries came earlier in the day even though missiles and drones continued to fly toward Gulf Arab states, reported news agency Associated Press.
Pezeshkian's apology came exactly a week after the United States and Israel struck Iran on February 28, starting the war and killing Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, rattling the entire world.
However, even after Pezeshkian's announcement, several cities in the Gulf including Dubai and Abu Dhabi continued to hear explosions and air raid sirens. On Saturday, the Dubai International Airport also suspended its operations briefly after what was officially reported as a “minor incident”.