US President Donald Trump has mocked Iran after the country apologised to its Gulf neighbours for attacks carried out during the ongoing regional conflict. In a statement posted on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump described Iran as the “loser of the Middle East,” claiming that sustained military pressure from the United States and Israel forced Tehran to back down.
The comments came after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian publicly apologised to neighbouring Gulf countries and announced that Iran would halt drone and missile attacks against them unless those nations launched attacks against Tehran first.
Trump seized on the development to criticise Iran’s leadership and portray the country as weakened by the joint military operations conducted by the United States and Israel.
“Iran, which is being severely beaten, has pledged to stop shooting at its neighbors in the Middle East, apologized, and submitted,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The 79-year-old Republican leader claimed that the shift in Iran’s position was a direct result of ongoing strikes carried out by the United States and Israel during the escalating conflict in West Asia.
According to Trump, Iran had historically attempted to dominate the region but was now experiencing an unprecedented defeat.
“Their goal was to conquer and dominate the Middle East. For the first time in thousands of years, Iran has lost to neighboring Middle Eastern nations,” he wrote.
Trump also suggested that regional countries were grateful for Washington’s actions, adding that some had expressed appreciation for the US role in weakening Iran’s military capabilities.
In a particularly sharp remark, Trump said Iran was no longer the “bully of the Middle East,” but had become the “loser of the Middle East,” predicting that the country would remain in that position for decades unless its government changed course.
He further warned that the United States could expand its list of military targets if Iran continued actions considered hostile.
“Areas and groups of people that were not considered for targeting up until this point are under serious consideration,” Trump said, suggesting that additional military strikes were possible.
Iran Apologises to Gulf Neighbours
The remarks from Trump followed an apology issued by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to neighbouring Gulf states that had come under attack during the recent conflict.
Speaking on Saturday, Pezeshkian acknowledged the tensions created by Iran’s actions and emphasised that Tehran did not intend to wage war against neighbouring countries.
“I apologise to the neighbouring countries,” Pezeshkian said, adding that Iran had no plans to invade or attack them.
The Iranian president also revealed that the country’s leadership council had decided to halt missile and drone strikes against Gulf nations unless they directly participated in attacks against Iran.
The statement was seen as an attempt to ease tensions with regional neighbours and prevent the conflict from spreading further across the Gulf region.
US and Israel Claim Major Damage to Iran’s Military
Meanwhile, both Washington and Tel Aviv have claimed that the ongoing military campaign has significantly weakened Iran’s military capabilities.
According to statements from US and Israeli officials, a large portion of Iran’s air defence systems and missile infrastructure has been destroyed during the recent strikes.
Reports cited by international media outlets indicated that Iran’s offensive operations have declined sharply in recent days.
| Military Indicator | Reported Change |
|---|---|
| Drone attacks by Iran | Decreased by approximately 83% |
| Ballistic missile launches | Dropped by about 90% |
| Iranian air defence systems destroyed | About 80% reportedly eliminated by Israeli strikes |
| Air superiority | Israel claims near-complete control of Iranian airspace |
US Central Command reportedly assessed that the sharp drop in Iranian attacks was linked to the damage inflicted on key military infrastructure.
Israeli officials have also claimed that their forces have achieved “near-complete air superiority” over parts of Iranian territory, allowing them to carry out further operations with fewer obstacles.
Conflict Escalates After US Attack on Iranian Warship
The conflict escalated significantly earlier in the week after the United States launched an attack on the Iranian warship IRIS Dena.
The vessel had been returning from a military exercise in India and was sailing near Sri Lanka when it was struck by a torpedo fired from a submarine, according to statements from US defence officials.
The attack marked the first known torpedo strike in a major military conflict since World War II.
At least 87 people were reported killed in the incident, while around 60 individuals remain missing.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the warship had been targeted by a submarine-launched torpedo.
Iran responded by condemning the attack and warning that the United States would “bitterly regret” its actions.
Hours after the strike, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for hitting an American oil tanker in the northern Persian Gulf in retaliation, according to reports by Reuters.
Rising Regional Tensions
The war between Iran and the US-Israel alliance has intensified rapidly over the past week, raising fears of a broader regional conflict.
Military operations have expanded across several fronts, including naval engagements in the Persian Gulf and airstrikes targeting strategic infrastructure.
Diplomatic observers warn that unless tensions are reduced, the conflict could spread further across the Middle East, affecting global energy supplies and regional security.
For now, Iran’s apology to Gulf neighbours appears to be an attempt to limit the number of countries directly involved in the war, even as the confrontation with the United States and Israel continues to escalate.
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