Iran president expresses regret over attacks on Gulf states, seeks to improve Iran's image

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issued an apology on Saturday to neighbouring countries for the recent attacks on their territories, which endangered civilian lives. He maintained that Iran's indiscriminate missile and drone assaults, targeting civilians and infrastructure, were actions "forced upon Tehran."

Pezeshkian explained that the interim leadership council had directed the Iranian armed forces to refrain from initiating attacks or missile strikes against neighbouring nations unless provoked by aggression originating from those countries. While asserting that "there is no hostility towards regional nations," he simultaneously defended the attacks, which targeted civilians and breached the sovereignty of non-hostile states, framing them as measures to safeguard Iran's territorial integrity.

Since the onset of the crisis, the UAE and several allied nations have repeatedly emphasized their commitment to preventing the use of their airspace, land, or waters for any hostile military actions against Iran. They have also urged the prioritization of dialogue and diplomacy to address disputes. However, Iran's brazen and reckless missile and drone attacks targeting sovereign territories and civilians represent a serious escalation. These actions violate state sovereignty, international law, and humanitarian principles, while posing significant threats to regional and global stability.

Iranian Terrorism Continues

For over a week, Iran's acts of terrorism against multiple countries in the region have persisted. Tehran has intentionally launched aggressive attacks involving ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones, frequently targeting civilian sites and critical infrastructure such as airports, hotels, and service and tourism facilities.

The UAE has faced the brunt of these assaults, with more than 1,401 attacks reported since the escalation began. Among these, 212 ballistic missiles were identified—205 intercepted, 12 falling into the sea, and two impacting UAE territory. Likewise, 1,305 Iranian drones were detected, with 1,229 successfully intercepted, while 76 crashed within the country's borders. Furthermore, eight cruise missiles were detected and subsequently neutralized.

Elsewhere in the region, Kuwait experienced 606 attacks, Qatar endured 175, Bahrain faced 221 incidents, Jordan reported approximately 49 attacks, Saudi Arabia registered 47 instances, and Oman was subject to five attacks.

Iran’s ongoing breaches of Arab state sovereignty and international law, along with its intentional attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure, pose significant risks of escalating the conflict. These actions jeopardize regional and global security while also threatening the stability of the world economy. This persists despite the firm stance of Arab states in rejecting the use of their territories as battlegrounds for disputes or violations of their sovereignty.