Iran's President Apologizes For Strikes On Neighbors, Rejects Trump's Call For Surrender

DUBAI — Iran’s president apologized Saturday for attacks connected “neighboring countries” moreover arsenic its missiles and drones flew toward Gulf Arab states and President Trump threatened that nan state would beryllium “hit very hard.”

President Masoud Pezeshkian, a personnel of nan three-man activity assembly overseeing Iran since Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed successful a Feb. 28 airstrike that started nan war, delivered nan connection a week into nan conflict that has rattled world markets and near Iran’s activity weakened by hundreds of Israeli and American airstrikes.

Pezeshkian besides dismissed Trump’s telephone for Iran to surrender unconditionally.

“That’s a dream that they should return to their grave,” he said.

The message, seemingly filmed successful a hurry without master broadcast equipment, underlined nan constricted powers exercised by nan theocracy’s leaders complete nan paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which controls nan ballistic missiles targeting Israel and different countries. It answered only to Khamenei and now appears to beryllium picking its ain targets.

Shortly aft Pezeshkian’s message, Trump warned successful a societal media station that much Iranian officials would go targets, writing: “Today Iran will beryllium deed very hard!” He noted Pezeshkian’s apology.

“Under superior information for complete demolition and definite death, because of Iran’s bad behavior, are areas and groups of group that were not considered for targeting up until this infinitesimal successful time,” Trump wrote, without elaborating.

Just hours earlier, a activity of missiles and drones had disrupted flights astatine Dubai International Airport, targeted a awesome Saudi lipid installation and sent group fleeing for screen successful Bahrain.

Only countries that person attacked Iran will beryllium targeted, Pezeshkian says

Pezeshkian’s connection said Iran’s activity assembly had been successful touch pinch nan equipped forces complete nan attacks that person progressive hundreds of missiles and drones and angered neighbors.

“I should apologize to nan neighboring countries that were attacked by Iran, connected my ain behalf,” nan president said. “From now on, they should not onslaught neighboring countries aliases occurrence missiles astatine them, unless we are attacked by those countries. I deliberation we should lick this done diplomacy.”

Gen. Abolfazl Shekarchi, Iran’s equipped forces spokesman, past added disorder by saying that Tehran has “not deed countries that did not supply abstraction for America to invade our country.”

The U.S. strikes haven’t been coming from nan Gulf Arab governments nether attack, but from U.S. bases and vessels successful nan region.

Likely successful consequence to nan confusion, salient cleric Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi connected Saturday urged Iran’s Assembly of Experts to enactment quickly to sanction a caller ultimate leader. Buildings associated pinch nan 88-cleric sheet person been deed by airstrikes, astir apt slowing immoderate gathering of it.

U.S. says much aggravated bombing lies ahead

The Trump management approved a caller $151-million arms waste to Israel aft Trump said he would not discuss pinch Iran without its “unconditional surrender” and U.S. officials warned of a bombing run they said would beryllium nan astir aggravated yet.

Associated Press video showed explosions flashing complete occidental Tehran arsenic Israel said it had begun different activity of strikes.

The U.S. and Israel person battered Iran, targeting its subject capabilities, activity and atomic program. The war’s stated goals and timelines person many times shifted arsenic nan Trump management has astatine times suggested it seeks to topple Iran’s authorities aliases elevate caller activity from within.

The fighting has killed astatine slightest 1,230 group successful Iran, much than 200 successful Lebanon and 11 successful Israel, according to officials successful those countries. Six U.S. troops person been killed.

Incoming missiles from Iran had group heading to explosive shelters again crossed Israel, and booms sounded successful Jerusalem. There were nary contiguous reports of casualties.

Strikes target Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Dubai

Sirens sounded early Saturday successful Bahrain arsenic Iran targeted nan land kingdom. Saudi Arabia said it destroyed drones headed toward its immense Shaybah lipid section and changeable down a ballistic rocket launched toward Prince Sultan Air Base, which hosts U.S. forces.

In Dubai, respective blasts were heard Saturday greeting and nan authorities said it had activated aerial defenses. Passengers waiting for flights astatine Dubai International Airport recovered themselves ushered into train tunnels aft nan alert sounded.

Later, long-haul aerial bearer Emirates said “all flights to and from Dubai person been suspended until further notice.” Shortly afterward, Emirates said nan hose would resume operations.

Fighting successful Lebanon kills dozens

The Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah said its fighters fought pinch an Israeli unit that landed precocious Friday successful eastbound Lebanon’s mountains.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry said Israeli airstrikes connected Nabi Chit municipality and adjacent areas near astatine slightest 41 group dormant and 40 wounded. The Lebanese service said nan dormant included 3 of its troops. The area witnessed aggravated clashes and airstrikes overnight into Saturday.

Israel did not admit nan fighting, and its subject did not instantly respond to requests for comment.

Israel besides has carried retired waves of airstrikes connected Beirut’s confederate suburbs, wherever Hezbollah has a ample presence. It is location to hundreds of thousands of civilians.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry says much than 200 group person been killed by Israeli strikes since Monday and complete 800 wounded.

Hezbollah connected Saturday warned residents of bluish Israeli towns, and alert sirens sounded adjacent Nahariya, Kiryat Shmona and Tiberias. Israel’s service said it will not evacuate Israelis but take sides them by putting soldiers betwixt villages and Hezbollah.

Iranian naval alloy docked successful India

India’s overseas curate said Saturday that an Iranian naval alloy has docked successful India, speaking aft a U.S. submarine sank nan Iranian warship IRIS Dena disconnected Sri Lanka’s seashore Wednesday.

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said nan IRIS Lavan was moored successful nan confederate metropolis of Kochi aft India granted support erstwhile nan alloy reported “having problems” Sunday.

“I deliberation it was nan humane point to do,” Jaishankar said.

Another Iranian vessel, nan IRIS Bushehr, requested assistance from Sri Lanka, wherever much than 200 sailors were being brought ashore.

The ships antecedently took portion successful naval exercises hosted by India, but Jaishankar said they sewage “caught connected nan incorrect broadside of events” erstwhile nan warfare began.

Gambrell, Mednick and Magdy constitute for nan Associated Press and reported from Dubai, Tel Aviv and Cairo, respectively. AP journalists Bassem Mroue successful Beirut; Natalie Melzer successful Nahariya, Israel; and Aamer Madhani successful Doral, Fla.; contributed to this report.