Iran rejects Trump demand for unconditional surrender, apologises to Gulf states
Mar 7th 2026
In a prerecorded address, President Masoud Pezeshkian rejected Donald Trump’s call for Iran’s unconditional surrender, apologised for strikes that hit Gulf neighbours, and said Iran will suspend attacks on nearby countries unless they strike Iran first.
- President Masoud Pezeshkian called Donald Trump’s demand for Iran’s unconditional surrender a 'dream'.
- Pezeshkian issued a rare apology to neighbouring Gulf countries and said Iran would suspend attacks on nearby states unless those states attacked Iran first.
- It is unclear if Iran’s remarks signal a broader de-escalation, with some strikes reportedly still occurring.
- Israel said it launched a pre-dawn strike with about 80 fighter jets on Iranian targets, including Mehrabad airport, which caught fire.
- Explosions and air raid sirens were reported over Jerusalem and in Gulf cities including Dubai and Manama, and Saudi Arabia said it intercepted a ballistic missile near Riyadh.
- Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they targeted the oil tanker Prima and have in effect closed the Strait of Hormuz to shipping.
- The conflict began after joint US and Israeli strikes that killed Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei and has spread into Lebanon and the wider region.
- Iran’s health ministry reported at least 926 civilian deaths and about 6,000 injuries, Lebanon reported at least 217 deaths, and aid groups say about 300,000 people have been displaced.