President Donald Trump has mocked Iran after its leadership apologised to neighbouring countries affected by retaliatory missile and drone strikes on United States military bases across the Gulf.
The strikes targeted bases in Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait. Tehran said the attacks were retaliation for earlier “pre-emptive” strikes carried out by the United States and Israel.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian later attempted to calm tensions in the region, saying Iran had no intention of invading neighbouring states and calling for cooperation to restore stability.
“I deem it necessary to apologise to neighbouring countries that were attacked,” Pezeshkian said. “We do not intend to invade neighbouring countries.”
However, Trump dismissed the apology and claimed it was the result of sustained military pressure on Iran.
Writing on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, the US president said Tehran was being forced into submission by what he described as relentless attacks by Washington and its allies.
“Iran, which is being beat to HELL, has apologised and surrendered to its Middle East neighbours,” Trump wrote.
“They were looking to take over and rule the Middle East. It is the first time that Iran has ever lost, in thousands of years, to surrounding Middle Eastern countries.”
Trump further claimed regional states had thanked him for confronting Iran’s influence.
“They have said, ‘Thank you President Trump’. I have said, ‘You’re welcome!’,” he said.
The US president also warned that further military action could follow, saying Iran would be “hit very hard”.
He added that some locations and groups previously not considered targets were now under serious review for potential strikes.
The escalating rhetoric comes amid heightened tensions across the Middle East after recent exchanges of attacks involving Iran, the United States and Israel, raising fears of a wider regional conflict.
