As the Middle East conflict enters its second week, Iran’s leadership is attempting to prevent a full-scale regional war.
President Masoud Pezeshkian has clarified that Iran’s recent drone and missile strikes were strictly "retaliatory" and that the nation has no intention of invading nearby Arab states.
The President stated that Iran will only fire on neighboring countries if those countries are used as a launchpad for attacks against Iran.
After Iran targeted U.S. bases in the Gulf, Pezeshkian admitted the strikes affected neighboring civilians and offered an official apology to those nations.
He cautioned that supporting the U.S. or Israel would not lead to "honor or freedom," urging local leaders to stay out of the superpower conflict.
This new "no-first-strike" policy was agreed upon by Iran's three-member interim leadership council, which is currently governing the country following recent leadership losses.
