Iran's president says his remarks misread as strikes on Gulf states persist
2026-03-09 09:31:05 source：CGTN
March 8, 2026
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday that "enemies" had misinterpreted his earlier comments suggesting Tehran would halt attacks on neighboring countries, insisting the Islamic Republic has no quarrel with regional states even as missile and drone strikes persisted across the Gulf.
Speaking in Tehran, Pezeshkian said his remarks a day earlier – in which he apologized to neighboring countries affected by the conflict – had been distorted to sow division between Iran and its regional neighbors. He stressed that Tehran maintains "good and brotherly" relations with neighboring states but would respond if attacks on Iran were launched from their territory.
"If the United States or Israel launch attacks on Iran from the territory of other states, Iran would inevitably respond," he said, adding that such actions should not be interpreted as hostility toward those countries or their people.
Read more: