Trump taunts Iran over apology to neighbouring countries after airstrikes

President of the United States, Donald Trump, has mocked Iran for apologising to neighbouring countries affected by retaliatory airstrikes carried out during the ongoing conflict in the region.

Iran had launched missile and drone attacks on several United States military bases located in Gulf countries, including Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait.

The strikes were described by Iranian authorities as retaliation for what they called “preemptive attacks” carried out earlier by the United States and Israel.

Speaking after the attacks, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran had no intention of invading neighbouring states and stressed the need for regional cooperation to maintain stability.

He also apologised to countries affected by the strikes, saying Iran’s actions were not aimed at destabilising the region.

“I deem it necessary to apologise to neighbouring countries that were attacked,” Pezeshkian said.

“We do not intend to invade neighbouring countries.”

Trump calls Iran ‘the loser of the Middle East’

Reacting in a post shared on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, Trump said Iran’s apology resulted from what he described as relentless attacks by the US and Israel.

The US president accused Iran of attempting to dominate the Middle East but claimed the country had now been forced to back down.

“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 that leaders in the region had expressed appreciation for his actions.

“They have said, ‘Thank you President Trump’. I have said, ‘You’re welcome!’,” he added.

The US president also described Iran as no longer being a dominant power in the region.

“Iran is no longer the bully of the Middle East, they are, instead, ‘the loser of the Middle East’ and will be for many decades until they surrender, or more likely, completely collapse,” he said.

Trump added that Iran could face further military action, warning that additional targets were under consideration due to what he called the country’s “bad behaviour”.

According to him, locations and groups that had not previously been considered for targeting could now be reviewed for potential military strikes.

Similar read: Trump hosts Messi, Inter Miami after 2025 MLS Cup triumph