Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has rejected U.S. demands for Iran’s “unconditional surrender,” as the conflict between Iran and a U.S.–Israel coalition intensifies, with new strikes, mounting casualties, and growing fears of a wider regional war in the Middle East.

The remarks come amid escalating attacks on infrastructure and military sites across Iran and neighboring countries, marking one of the most volatile moments in the region in decades.







President Defies U.S. Pressure

In a televised address broadcast on Iranian state media, President Pezeshkian dismissed calls from U.S. President Donald Trump for Iran to capitulate, calling the demand “a dream” and insisting that Tehran would continue defending itself.

The Iranian leader also issued a rare apology to Gulf countries for missile and drone strikes that had landed on their territory during the conflict. According to Pezeshkian, those attacks targeted U.S. military installations in the region and were not intended to harm neighboring states.

He said Iran would halt strikes on nearby countries unless they assisted military operations against Tehran.

Airstrikes and Retaliation Continue

Despite the conciliatory tone toward regional neighbors, the fighting between Iran and the U.S.–Israel alliance has intensified.

Israeli forces expanded their campaign Sunday, striking an oil storage facility in Tehran and other strategic targets. The attack marked one of the first known strikes on major civilian industrial infrastructure inside Iran during the war.

Iran responded with attacks across the region, including strikes on facilities in Bahrain and missile alerts across the Gulf. A desalination plant in Bahrain was reportedly hit in retaliation for earlier strikes on Iranian infrastructure.

Casualties have risen sharply since the war began on February 28, when U.S. and Israeli forces launched coordinated strikes on Iranian leadership and military targets. At least 1,200 people in Iran, more than 300 in Lebanon, and about a dozen in Israel have been reported killed so far.

War Triggered by Assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader

The conflict erupted after an unprecedented attack killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran during coordinated U.S.–Israeli strikes targeting senior Iranian officials.

His death triggered a major political transition inside Iran. Under the country’s constitution, a temporary leadership council—including President Pezeshkian—assumed some responsibilities of the supreme leader while the Assembly of Experts works to select a successor.

Reports on Sunday indicated that Iranian clerics may already have reached a majority consensus on the next supreme leader, though procedural issues have delayed a final announcement.

Regional Tensions Spill Across the Gulf

The war has expanded beyond Iran’s borders, with explosions and drone attacks reported across several Gulf states. Saudi Arabia has warned Tehran that any direct attack on its territory would provoke retaliation.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Israeli and U.S. forces now have extensive operational control over Iranian airspace after days of intense bombardment.

Analysts warn that further escalation could disrupt global energy markets, maritime routes in the Persian Gulf, and water supplies in the region after desalination facilities became targets of attacks.

Growing Global Concern

The conflict has prompted urgent diplomatic discussions worldwide as civilian casualties rise and infrastructure damage spreads.

Some experts warn the situation could spiral into a broader regional war involving Gulf states and allied militias, while others believe Tehran may seek limited de-escalation to prevent further economic and military losses.

For now, President Pezeshkian’s message appears to balance defiance toward Washington with cautious outreach to neighboring countries—an indication that Iran’s leadership is attempting to contain the conflict even as fighting intensifies.