Iran’s president has rejected a demand by U.S. President Donald Trump for his country’s unconditional surrender and has apologized for Iran’s attacks on regional countries. The comments came as intense Iranian fire targeted Gulf Arab states Saturday morning, with Israel and the United States continuing air strikes targeting the Islamic Republic.
Escalating Conflict and Regional Attacks
Trump called for Iran’s “unconditional surrender” on Friday, escalating demands a week into the conflict involving the U.S. and Israel. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the U.S. demand is “a dream that they should take to their grave” in a pre-recorded address aired by Iranian state television.
Pezeshkian also apologized for Iran’s attacks on regional countries, stating that Tehran would halt them and suggesting they were caused by miscommunication. Repeated attacks occurred Saturday morning on Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Disruptions in Dubai and Flight Suspensions
In Dubai, several blasts were heard Saturday morning, prompting the activation of air defenses. Passengers at Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest for international travel, were directed into train tunnels. Emirates, a long-haul carrier, briefly suspended all flights to and from Dubai before resuming operations later that morning.
Mediation Efforts and Expected Conflict Duration
The Iranian president stated that some countries have begun mediation efforts to end the war, without providing details. Qatar, Turkey, Egypt, and Oman have all offered to mediate since the war began Saturday. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly told Arab foreign ministers Thursday that the war is expected to last several more weeks, while Israeli military officials said they have attack plans for the coming weeks in Iran.
Military Strikes and Counterattacks
Early Saturday, missiles were seen flying toward Israel as the Israeli military identified launches from Iran. Israeli defenses activated to intercept incoming fire, and explosions were heard. Shortly after, the Israeli army began strikes targeting infrastructure in Tehran. Israel also attacked neighboring Lebanon, targeting Iranian and Hizbullah sites.
Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport was reportedly struck, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. The Saudi defense minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman, urged Iran to “avoid miscalculation” after missile and drone launches at the kingdom. Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry stated it had blocked repeated missile launches at an airbase housing U.S. military personnel and drone attacks at a major oilfield.
International Concerns and Humanitarian Impact
Explosions were also reported in Dubai and Manama, Bahrain’s capital. Clashes erupted as Israeli forces attempted a landing operation along the Lebanon-Syria border, with Hizbullah claiming its fighters were involved. The Israeli military said it struck the Iranian leadership’s main bunker in Tehran, under the compound of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, asserting it was used by senior officials and had been destroyed.
Iran’s UN ambassador, Amir Saeed Iravani, said at least 1,332 Iranian civilians have died in the conflict with Israel and the U.S., with thousands more injured. Iravani asserted that the U.S. and Israel deliberately targeted civilian infrastructure, while Iran targeted military sites. The U.S. and Israel dispute this claim, stating Iranian attacks have killed 11 people in Israel.
The number of projectiles Iran is firing towards Israel has decreased. In Lebanon, Hizbullah continues rocket and drone fire from the north, despite evacuation orders issued by Israel to hundreds of thousands of Lebanese citizens in areas under Hizbullah control. Lebanon’s health ministry reported 217 deaths since Monday, and the United Nations has expressed concern that Israel’s forced displacement of residents could be a violation of international law.
The UN refugee agency, Unrwa, declared the Middle East situation a humanitarian emergency, with about 300,000 people displaced in Lebanon in the past four days, according to the Norwegian Refugee Council. The headquarters of Ghana’s United Nations peacekeeping battalion in Lebanon was hit by missile attacks Friday, critically injuring two soldiers. Irish troops and bases were not targeted, but Irish Defence Forces personnel are providing casualty evacuation and fire fighting assistance to the Ghanaian battalion.
A Unifil spokesman stated that three peacekeepers were injured inside their base in Al Qawzah, southwestern Lebanon, amidst heavy firing. The spokesman reminded all actors of their obligations under international law to ensure the safety of UN personnel.
Repatriation Efforts and Terror Threat
The first repatriation flight for Irish citizens stranded in the Gulf is due to leave Oman Saturday. The flight was delayed from its original departure Friday from Muscat to Dublin. Approximately 180 people are expected to be on board. The war has prompted Europol to warn that Europe is facing a “heightened” level of threat from lone-wolf terror attacks, with the conflict having immediate repercussions for serious and organized crime and terrorism in the EU.
Discover more from Archyworldys
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
