Analysis: how ought to we interpret Pezeshkian’s assertion?
Patrick Wintour
The announcement by Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian that Iran will not assault Gulf and neighbouring states if they aren’t attacking Iran seems on the floor a major change in ways, reflecting the overwhelming diplomatic stress Iran was underneath to alter course, or threat uniting the entire of the Arab world towards Iran. It could be an admission that Iran’s present navy technique is heading for diplomatic catastrophe.
But the exact implications of his announcement stays open to interpretation. An Iranian armed forces spokesperson appeared to qualify its which means closely by saying:
Strikes towards the US and Israeli belongings will proceed. So far, we’ve got focused each base that was the origin of aggression towards Iran and we stay dedicated to this matter. Countries that haven’t offered area and services to the United States and the Zionist regime haven’t been our goal thus far and won’t be focused sooner or later.
If the armed forces imagine international locations merely offering land, by way of bases, stay legit targets, then successfully nothing has modified since there are US bases in nearly each Gulf State. What Pezeshkian appeared to suggest is that these international locations won’t be attacked if the US bases and airspace aren’t getting used to assault Iran, an altogether completely different proposition.
Whether this displays an inner disagreement, a reinterpretation of the choice taken by Pezeshkian and different members of Iran’s non permanent government council or just a extra hardline method of explaining the political management’s choice, time will inform. It is a check of the place energy lies in Iran in wartime.
But it was important too that Pezeshkian selected to apologise and to argue Iran wished to be on the correct facet of worldwide regulation. Many legal professionals claimed Iran’s assaults on US bases within the area might be justified as acts of self-defence, however the wider assaults on Gulf infrastructure and oil installations couldn’t.
If Pezeshkian’s promise is translated into actuality then Iran hopes the trail to reunite the area and the main focus can shift again to what it regards because the injustice of the US assaults within the midst of diplomacy.
The stress to relent has been coming from all of the Gulf states, however notably international locations which have tried to be near Iran, together with Oman, Turkey and Qatar. Some of the telephone conversations have been stated to be seething.
Key occasions
Summary of the day thus far
Donald Trump, talking in Florida to leaders of Latin American international locations at his golf resort in Miami, stated US strikes on Iran have considerably broken the nation’s navy capabilities, claiming American forces have destroyed 42 Iranian navy ships in three days.
Lebanon’s official National News Agency, citing figures from the nation’s well being ministry, reported that 41 folks have been killed in Israeli strikes within the jap Bekaa valley. The Israeli navy once more warned folks south of the Litani river in southern Lebanon to depart, saying the Israeli navy is working with “great force” within the space.
Trump wore a Trump-branded golf cap through the ritual dignified switch of stays at Dover air drive base in Delaware on Saturday, because the commander-in-chief paid his respects to 6 military reserve troopers killed in Kuwait in an Iranian strike.
In a submit on Truth Social, the US president renewed his criticism of the UK’s lack of instant assist for US-Israeli strikes on Iran, and claimed Downing Street was now “giving serious thought” to sending two plane carriers to the area. “That’s OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don’t need them any longer – But we will remember,” he wrote. “We don’t need people that join Wars after we’ve already won!”
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, on his method again to Florida from Dover air drive base in Delaware, Trump was requested whether or not he expects to return there for extra dignified switch ceremonies for US troops killed within the warfare with Iran he launched final Saturday. “Oh yeah, I’m sure,” he replied. “I hate to do them, but it’s a part of war, isn’t it?”
When requested whether or not the US bombed a ladies’ elementary faculty in Iran, killing greater than 175 folks, a lot of them youngsters, Trump claimed that detailed forensic reporting that signifies the US was accountable is incorrect. “No, in my opinion, based on what I’ve seen, that was done by Iran,” Trump stated with out providing any proof for his declare.
Trump additionally didn’t rule out deploying US troops to safe Iran’s enriched uranium. When requested about whether or not he would deploy floor troops in Iran, the president stated “possibly” however that there would “have to be a very good reason”. He was then requested whether or not he would possibly ship floor troops into Iran to safe its nuclear services. “We wouldn’t do it now. Maybe we’d do it later on,” he replied.
Since the beginning of US and Israeli airstrikes, greater than 6,000 civilian constructions throughout Iran have sustained injury, in response to a social media assertion from Pir Hossein Kolivand, president of the Iranian Red Crescent.
The president of the UAE, Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, gave his first public feedback since Iran launched retaliatory strikes on the Gulf nation. “The UAE has thick skin and bitter flesh – we are no easy prey,” he stated.
Iran’s overseas minister warned in a press release that Trump had misinterpreted the assertion by Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, during which he apologized to neighboring Gulf states and promised to cease strikes towards them, except an assault towards Iran originated from these international locations. He stated Netanyahu ‘managed to dupe’ Trump ‘into fighting Israel’s wars’
The US Central Command denied on Saturday that any US service members had been taken hostage or captured by Iran.
In a post on X, Iranian safety chief Ali Larijani stated: “It has been reported to me that several American soldiers have been taken prisoner. But the Americans claim that they have been killed in action. Despite their futile efforts, the truth is not something they can hide for too long.”
US Navy captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for the US Central Command, advised Reuters: “The Iranian regime is doing everything it can to peddle lies and deceive. This is yet another clear example.”
Human Rights Watch stated right this moment in a statement that the lethal strike on an Iranian ladies’ faculty that killed scores of kids in southern Iran should be investigated as a warfare crime.
The strike occurred the morning of 28 February, amid a wave of a whole bunch of strikes launched throughout Iran by US and Israeli forces. While the Iranian authorities has attributed the assault to the US-Israeli coalition, neither nation has claimed accountability.
“A prompt and thorough investigation is needed into this attack, including if those responsible should have known that a school was there and that it would be full of children and their teachers before midday,” stated Sophia Jones, open supply researcher with the Digital Investigations Lab at Human Rights Watch. “Those responsible for an unlawful attack should be held to account, including prosecutions of anyone responsible for war crimes.”
The Shajareh Tayyebeh Primary School is positioned in Minab, Hormozgan province, located on the inside boundary of an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Naval Forces compound. Despite this proximity, Human Rights Watch famous that proof reviewed signifies the college is walled off from the navy web site and maintains a separate road entrance.
Earlier right this moment, Trump accused Iran of being behind the lethal faculty explosion regardless of proof suggesting it was seemingly a US airstrike.
When requested about earlier experiences of the US attacking a freshwater desalination plant on Qeshm Island, Trump gave an evasive reply, instantly saying that Iran “are among the most evil people ever on Earth”.
He added: “I know nothing about a desalinization plant, other than to say, if they’re complaining about a desalinization plant, we complain about the fact that they shouldn’t be chopping babies’ heads off.”
US particular envoy Steve Witkoff additionally stated the Tehran management didn’t appear “very amenable” throughout negotiations earlier than the US launched strikes.
“They told me and Jared, we’re not going to give you diplomatically what you couldn’t take militarily,” stated Witkoff, referring to fellow negotiator and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. “So you know, I think they’re going to need a change of attitude.”
Trump would not rule out deploying US troops to safe Iran’s enriched uranium
Asked by a reporter on Air Force One about whether or not he would deploy floor troops in Iran, Donald Trump said “possibly” however that there would “have to be very good reason”.
The president was then requested whether or not he would possibly ship floor troops into Iran to safe its nuclear services. “We wouldn’t do it now. Maybe we’d do it later on,” Trump replied.
Without proof, Trump claims that bombing of Iranian ladies’ elementary faculty ‘was achieved by Iran’
Robert Mackey
Asked on Air Force One whether or not the United States bombed a ladies’ elementary faculty in Iran, killing greater than 175 folks, a lot of them youngsters, Donald Trump claimed that detailed forensic reporting that signifies the US was accountable is incorrect.
“No, in my opinion, based on what I’ve seen, that was done by Iran,” the president said with out providing any proof for his declare.
“Is that true, Mr Hegseth?” the identical reporter then requested the protection secretary, who was standing behind the president.
As the president turned to have a look at him, the protection secretary didn’t agree.
“We’re certainly investigating,” Hegseth stated. “But the only side that targets civilians is Iran.”
“We think it was done by Iran,” Trump added, “because they’re very inaccurate, as you know, with their munitions. They have no accuracy whatsoever. It was done by Iran.”
The president’s declare shouldn’t be supported by logic, because the faculty was adjoining to an Iranian navy base the US focused from the air, and is contradicted by proof gathered in unbiased investigations by journalists at the New York Times, CNN and the Associated Press.
Trump says he expects extra US troops to die in Iran warfare
Robert Mackey
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, on his method again to Florida from Dover air drive base in Delaware, Donald Trump was requested whether or not he expects to return there for extra dignified switch ceremonies for US troops killed within the warfare with Iran he launched final Saturday.
“Oh yeah, I’m sure,” the president replied. “I hate to do them, but it’s a part of war, isn’t it?”
Trump then requested the reporter who requested him concerning the prospect of extra American lives being misplaced: “Who are you with?”
When the reporter replied: “the Washington Post”, Trump requested him whether or not he would agree that loss of life is a part of warfare.
“It’s part of war,” the president repeated, “it’s a sad part of war, it’s the bad part of war.”
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) stated it’s actively managing offshore output ranges to deal with storage necessities amid the US-Israeli warfare on Iran, whereas its onshore operations are persevering with, in response to Reuters.
“This approach preserves operational flexibility and will enable the company to resume normal operations without prolonged delay,” Adnoc stated in a press release.
The warfare has blocked shipments via the Strait of Hormuz, the essential waterway liable for roughly 20% of worldwide oil and LNG provide. Analysts have predicted the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia will quickly have to chop output as their oil storage fills up.
Adnoc stated its operations are persevering with, and that it’s utilizing export capability that bypasses the strait in addition to worldwide storage services to make sure provide continuity to world markets.
Saudi state oil big Aramco is quickly diverting some crude shipments to the Red Sea port of Yanbu to make sure provide continuity for purchasers unable to entry the Gulf, Saudi state media stated on Saturday. Reuters reported on Friday that its shipments from the Red Sea are rising however the volumes are removed from sufficient to offset the drop from the crisis-hit strait.
Donald Trump stated on Saturday that Britain was giving critical thought to sending two plane carriers to the Middle East however that he doesn’t want them as a result of “we’ve already won”.
“The United Kingdom, our once Great Ally, maybe the Greatest of them all, is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “That’s OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don’t need them any longer – But we will remember. We don’t need people that join Wars after we’ve already won!”
Trump wears golf cap throughout switch of stays of Iran warfare useless
Robert Mackey
Donald Trump wore a Trump-branded golf cap through the ritual dignified switch of stays at Dover air drive base in Delaware on Saturday, because the commander-in-chief paid his respects to 6 military reserve troopers killed in Kuwait in an Iranian strike.
The white cap, with gold USA letters on the entrance, seemed to be the identical one the president wore final Saturday when he introduced the beginning of the warfare in a video message recorded from his Florida seaside membership, Mar-a-Lago. The cap, which is embroidered with the numbers 45 and 47 on the facet, in honor of Trump’s phrases in workplace, is available from the Trump Store for $55.
C-Span video and images of the occasion present that Trump saluted because the stays of the six military reserve troopers have been transferred in flag-draped circumstances with out eradicating his cap.
The president was joined on the ceremony by the primary woman, Melania Trump, and officers together with the vice-president, JD Vance; the second woman, Usha Vance; the protection secretary, Pete Hegseth; the chair of the joint chiefs of employees, Gen Dan Caine; the White House chief of employees, Susie Wiles; and Steve Witkoff, Trump’s particular envoy who led the failed talks with Iran over its nuclear program earlier than the joint US-Israeli assault.
Benjamin Netanyahu stated Israel will proceed to strike Iran “with all our might” on Saturday.
In a recorded assertion, the Israeli prime minister claimed Israel and the US had gained “almost complete control” over the skies of Iran and that they nonetheless had “many more targets and surprises prepared”.
“We will destabilize the regime and enable change,” he stated. Israel had introduced a brand new wave of strikes on Tehran shortly earlier than this assertion.
Ali Larijani, the secretary of the supreme nationwide safety council of Iran, stated that the US is “stuck in the quagmire of its own miscalculations” due to Donald Trump, whom he says has already failed to achieve his targets.
“I think the most important problem the Americans have is that they do not understand the context of west Asia, especially Iran,” stated Larijani in a pre-recorded interview on state TV. “Their perception was that it would be like Venezuela – they would strike, take control and it would be over – but now they are trapped.”
Larijani stated international locations throughout the area are conscious that the US can’t safe their safety anymore following days of strikes. He added that Tehran has no challenge with the opposite regional international locations.
Since the beginning of US and Israeli airstrikes, greater than 6,000 civilian constructions throughout Iran have sustained injury, in response to a social media statement from Pir Hossein Kolivand, president of the Iranian Red Crescent.
The destruction spans a number of sectors of civilian infrastructure, together with:
5,535 residential items
1,041 industrial buildings
65 faculties
14 medical facilities
13 Red Crescent services
The Turkish overseas minister, Hakan Fidan, stated he had spoken to the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, who stated a scheme for Iranian Kurdish forces based mostly in northern Iraq to assault Iran was “not their intention”.
Speaking at a information convention in Istanbul, Fidan stated Rubio’s feedback got here in a latest telephone name. Instead, the minister accused Israel of utilizing Kurdish teams as “a proxy” within the area.
Strategies that “aim to create ethnic rivalry or an ethnic conflict in Iran would be something we oppose because it would be the most dangerous scenario”, Fidan stated. He stated that Turkey had been speaking to Kurdish leaders to stop such a “historic mistake”.
He added that Turkey had been concerned in “intense diplomatic traffic” to supply a “formula to end this war”.
