Iran's president's apology to Gulf countries sparks backlash from hardliners internally

The apology by Iran's president, Mahmoud Pezeshkian, to neighbouring Gulf countries for the strikes that have taken place over the past few days, and the promise to no longer target these countries unless an attack comes from there, has provoked a backlash within Iran.

Senior commanders in Revolutionary Guards angered by apology

According to France24, the backlash came from hardliners within Iran, including the country's Revolutionary Guards.

Reuters quoted a hardliner close to Khamenei's office, who said the apology had angered many of the Guards' senior commanders.

A cleric and lawmaker, Hamid Rasai, also called the president's stance, "unprofessional, weak and unacceptable".

Meanwhile the judiciary chief, Mohseni Ejei, one of the members of the current three-man body that temporarily holds the power of Iran's Supreme Leader, said retaliatory strikes would continue.

Ejei said the territories of some regional countries were being used for attacks against Iran, both openly and secretly.

When Pezeshkian uploaded his statement to the Gulf countries on social media, it did not include the apology.

Fresh strikes have since been reported in the Gulf countries, including a drone attack on a desalination plant in Bahrain, Al Jazeera reported.

How Trump characterised Pezeshkian's remarks

The Guardian noted that Pezeshkian's position was not helped by U.S. president Donald Trump's acknowledgement, as he characterised the remarks as a surrender and described it as the first time Iran had been forced to admit defeat in over a millennium.

Trump had stated that Pezeshkian's promise was due to the U.S. and Israeli attacks.

Following Trump's response, Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said Pezeshkian's remarks had been misinterpreted by Trump.

Araghchi said:

"President Pezeshkian's openness to de-escalation within our region – provided that our neighbors' airspace, territory, and waters are not used to attack the Iranian People – was almost immediately killed by President Trump's misinterpretation of our capabilities, determination and intent.

If Mr. Trump seeks escalation, it is precisely what our powerful armed forces have long been prepared for, and what he will get."

Top image via Mahmoud Pezeshkian/X