Iran Says Neighbouring Countries Will No Longer Be Targeted Unless Attacks Originate From Them
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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said the country will stop launching attacks on neighbouring states unless military operations against Iran are carried out from those territories.
The president made the announcement on Saturday, stating that Iran’s leadership had reached the decision during a meeting of the country’s interim governing council a day earlier. According to him, the new directive aims to prevent further escalation with Gulf states that have recently been affected by the ongoing regional conflict.
Pezeshkian also expressed regret over recent strikes that hit several countries in the Gulf region, acknowledging the disruption caused by the attacks in the past few days.
The development comes amid a widening confrontation involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. Since hostilities began last week, Iran has launched missiles at Israeli targets and facilities linked to the United States across the Middle East, including military installations and strategic infrastructure.
Some Gulf nations, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman, have also experienced missile strikes during the escalation. The attacks have forced the suspension of activities in airports and businesses in parts of the region while contributing to rising global oil prices.
Despite signalling restraint toward neighbouring states, Iran continues to enforce restrictions around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime corridor for global energy shipments. Iranian forces recently targeted an oil tanker in the Gulf after accusing it of ignoring warnings about navigating through the area.
The International Maritime Organisation earlier reported that thousands of vessels and tens of thousands of seafarers had been stranded across the Middle East as a result of the conflict and heightened security threats in the region.
Officials warn that disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, a passage responsible for roughly one-fifth of global oil supply, could have far-reaching consequences for international trade and energy markets.
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