Tehran: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday dismissed U.S. demands for an "unconditional surrender" as a "dream" that American leaders "should take to their grave," even as he offered a rare apology for Iranian strikes on neighbouring Gulf nations.

The president’s remarks, delivered in a prerecorded address on state television, came during a morning of intense aerial exchanges. While the U.S. and Israel continued their bombardment of the Islamic Republic, Iranian forces launched fresh waves of drone and missile attacks against Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates.

In a notable shift in tone, Pezeshkian apologised for the regional escalations, claiming the strikes were the result of "miscommunication" within the military hierarchy and promising that Tehran would cease such actions.

However, there was no indication of a broader ceasefire. The Trump administration on Saturday authorised a new $151 million arms sale to Israel, reinforcing the U.S. president’s earlier declaration that he would refuse any diplomatic resolution short of a total Iranian capitulation. U.S. officials further warned of an imminent bombing campaign characterised as the most severe since the conflict ignited eight days ago.

In New York, Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations stated that the country remains prepared to "take all necessary measures" to ensure its defence.

Associated Press video footage from Tehran early Saturday captured a series of flashes and rising plumes of smoke over the western portion of the capital as the Israeli military confirmed the start of a "broad wave" of strikes. Simultaneously, sirens echoed across Israel as Iranian missiles forced residents into bomb shelters in Jerusalem and other major cities. Israeli emergency services have yet to report any immediate casualties from the morning’s barrages.

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The ongoing joint U.S.-Israeli campaign has targeted Iran’s leadership, military infrastructure, and nuclear facilities. The strategic objectives of the war have evolved throughout the week, with Washington intermittently signalling an intent to facilitate regime change or install new internal leadership.

With inputs from AFP