Trump Rejects Iran Negotiations, War Intensifies Across Region
U.S. President Donald Trump declared on Saturday that he is not interested in negotiating with Iran, raising the possibility that the ongoing conflict might only conclude once Tehran lacks a functional military or any remaining leadership. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump suggested that the air campaign could render negotiations irrelevant if all potential Iranian leaders are eliminated and the country's military is decimated. "At some point, I don't think there will be anybody left maybe to say 'We surrender,'" Trump stated, emphasizing a hardline stance as the war entered its second week.
Iran's President Apologizes, Sparks Domestic Backlash
Amid escalating hostilities, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issued an apology to neighboring states for Iran's attacks on U.S. facilities in those countries, aiming to reduce regional tensions. "I personally apologize to neighboring countries that were affected by Iran's actions," Pezeshkian said, urging them not to join U.S.-Israeli assaults on Iran. He dismissed Trump's demand for unconditional surrender as "a dream" but announced that Iran's temporary leadership council had agreed to suspend attacks on nearby states unless strikes originate from their territory. This apology, however, stirred criticism from hardliners within Iran, including the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, leading Pezeshkian to later omit the apology from a social media post.
Regional Attacks and Diplomatic Fallout
The conflict has spread across the Middle East, with multiple incidents reported over the weekend:
- In Oslo, an explosion hit the U.S. embassy early Sunday, causing minor damage but no injuries, though the cause remains unclear.
- Saudi Arabia warned Tehran that continued Iranian attacks could prompt retaliation, after foiling a drone strike on Riyadh's diplomatic quarter.
- Kuwait's army reported drone attacks on fuel storage tanks at Kuwait International Airport, while Iran's fuel depots were struck in areas including Karaj, west of Tehran.
- The Revolutionary Guards claimed drone strikes on a U.S. air combat center near Abu Dhabi and U.S. forces in Bahrain, though Reuters could not independently verify these reports.
Israel Issues Warning to Lebanon
Israel intensified its actions in Lebanon, warning the country of a "very heavy price" if it fails to rein in Iran-allied Hezbollah militants. Airstrikes targeted Hezbollah strongholds, with at least four people killed in a strike on central Beirut, marking the first such attack in the capital since hostilities resumed. The death toll from Israel's attacks on Lebanon since Monday rose to around 300, according to Lebanon's health ministry.
Human Toll and Economic Impact
The conflict has resulted in significant casualties and economic disruption:
- Iran's U.N. ambassador reported at least 1,332 Iranian civilian deaths and thousands wounded from U.S.-Israeli attacks, with huge explosions heard in Tehran.
- Israeli officials stated that Iranian attacks have killed 10 people in Israel, while at least six U.S. service members have died, with their remains arriving at an Air Force base in Delaware.
- Global markets have been roiled, with oil prices hitting multi-year highs as the Strait of Hormuz effectively shut, and Kuwait's national oil company cutting output, adding to earlier reductions from Iraq and Qatar.
Internal Divisions and Leadership Dynamics
Within Iran, hardline clerics have called for the swift selection of a new supreme leader, with meetings potentially occurring as soon as Sunday. Ali Larijani, Iran's secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, denied any rift among officials over the war handling, but Pezeshkian's apology highlighted ongoing tensions. The judiciary chief, Mohseni-Ejei, a hardline member of the temporary leadership council, asserted that retaliatory strikes would continue against countries used for attacks on Iran.
As the war escalates, Trump's dismissal of negotiations and Iran's mixed signals underscore the deepening crisis, with regional stability hanging in the balance and global consequences mounting.
