Israel and Iran exchanged fresh attacks on Saturday as their conflict entered a second week, while Tehran issued an unusual apology to neighbouring Gulf states after its strikes hit civilian targets in the region.
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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologised to neighbouring countries affected by Iran’s recent actions and urged them not to support the joint military campaign by United States and Israel against Iran.
Pezeshkian said Iran’s temporary leadership council had agreed to suspend attacks on nearby states unless military strikes against Iran originated from their territories.
However, hours later the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed its drones targeted a US air combat centre at Al Dhafra Air Base near Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, though the report could not be independently verified.
Meanwhile, Iranian state media reported powerful explosions in several areas of Tehran following fresh airstrikes.
The conflict has already spread beyond Iran’s borders. Tehran has launched drone and missile attacks on Israel as well as Gulf states hosting US military installations, while Israel has carried out additional strikes in Lebanon.
Several Gulf countries — including the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia — have reported drone and missile attacks over the past week, sparking outrage as civilian infrastructure such as hotels, ports and oil facilities were targeted.
Despite hosting US military bases, Gulf states have said they would not allow their territories to be used for attacks on Iran.
The ongoing conflict has pushed global energy prices higher and disrupted business and logistics networks in a region crucial to the world economy.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender,” saying there would be no deal with Tehran without it.
According to Iran’s UN ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani, the US-Israeli attacks have killed at least 1,332 Iranian civilians and injured thousands. Iranian strikes have killed 11 people in Israel, while at least six US service members have also died.
Vladimir Putin, president of Russia, expressed condolences to Iran over the civilian casualties and called for an immediate halt to hostilities.
