Although Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian said in an apparently pre-recorded statement that Tehran would stop attacks on its Gulf neighbors, several new strikes were reported.
The attacks were some of the most powerful since the start of the war and coincided with the one-week anniversary of the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in strikes by the United States and Israel.
In the highest-level de-escalation comments yet from Iran, Pezeshkian apologized to its neighbors for days of strikes that caused panic in areas once considered safe, analyst Mostafa Salem comments quoted by CNN.
Since taking office in office, the reformist leader has defined himself with near-constant regret, issuing numerous public apologies during his tenure for the sharp deterioration of the national economy, the killing of thousands of protesters during demonstrations, and the persistent ineffectiveness of his own government.
Now he is apologizing on behalf of Iran's armed forces, saying they “acted on their own initiative and did what was necessary to defend our homeland with dignity and strength“ – a recurring message from some Iranian leaders justifying the massive attacks on cities in the Gulf Arab states.
It is unclear whether the statements by the Council of Leaders, of which Pezeshkian is now a member after US-Israeli strikes killed other key leaders, are in line with the aims of the armed forces or the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which has independently activated its own measures in response to US and Israeli attacks.
His comments caused a sigh of relief in the Gulf Arab states. Yet the shells that flew over their heads shortly after his speech suggest it is too early to say whether the Iranian attacks have stopped.
And his comments came with the condition that the territories of the Gulf Arab states, which are home to several major US military bases, not be used to launch attacks on Iran. As the region grapples with an unknown future, it remains unclear what actions Iran's armed forces and its proxies would consider hostile to the Islamic Republic.