Iran president apologizes for attacks on neighbors, mocks Trump’s call for ‘unconditional surrender'

Israel warned Iran on Sunday that it "will not hesitate to target" anyone who participates in the session to select a successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint attack launched by the U.S. and Israel on Feb. 28.

Col. Avichay Adraee, a spokesperson for the Israeli Defense Forces to the Arab media, posted the following warning to X on Sunday:

"After the elimination of the tyrant Khamenei, the Iranian terrorist regime is attempting to regroup and select a new leader, as it is expected that the Iranian Assembly of Experts, which has not convened for forty years, will meet soon in the city of Qom.

"I would like to emphasize that the long arm of the State of Israel will continue to pursue the Caliph and everyone who attempts to appoint him. We warn everyone planning to participate in the session to select the Caliph: We will not hesitate to target you as well."

Fox News' Yonat Friling contributed to this report.

The Israel Defense Forces said it struck F-14 fighter jets Saturday that were being stored at an airport in Isfahan, Iran.

The military said it also destroyed 16 aircraft used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force at Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran.

The strikes were part of Israel’s effort to further its air force’s aerial superiority in Iran, the military said.

The Israel Defense Forces said early Sunday that it launched a new wave of attacks across Iran, targeting Iranian regime infrastructure.

Shortly after the announcement, the military said missiles had been launched from Iran toward Israel and that Israeli defense systems were “operating to intercept the threat.”

Exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi said Saturday that the Islamic Republic is "crumbling" and that Iranians are ready to reclaim their country one week after U.S. and Israeli military operations rocked the regime.

The operations, which began last week, resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and nearly 50 other regime figures, creating what Pahlavi described as a pivotal moment for change.

"The situation on the ground is the fact that people obviously were waiting for an opportunity to get back to the streets to take their country back. We see more and more elements of the regime crumbling. A lot of people at home are ready to step in and this is exactly what will be required for a successful and stable transition," he said during a Fox News appearance on "My View" with Lara Trump.

Following the supreme leader’s death, Pahlavi said the Iranian people will not accept any outcome tied to the current regime.

"Only a clean break will ensure that not only we achieve a democratic solution and alternative to this regime, but there will be people who are not in any form or shape directly associated with this regime," he said.

Pahlavi, the son of the late Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, has called for a transition of power from theocracy to democracy and said he would help guide that transition, facilitated by a coalition of forces, including people inside Iran and members of the country’s military.

This is an excerpt of an article by Michael Sinkewicz.

Kuwait’s Interior Ministry said Sunday that two members of its General Department of Land Border Security had died.

The ministry identified them as Lt. Col. Abdullah Emad Al-Sharrah and Maj. Fahd Abdulaziz Al-Mujammad.

The ministry said they died “while performing their national duty.”

An NYPD officer died after suffering a medical emergency while deployed to Kuwait as part of Operation Epic Fury, the department said.

Police Officer Sorffly Davius passed away Friday, the department confirmed.

Officer Davius served in the 42nd Infantry Division of the U.S. Army National Guard, achieving the rank of major. He joined the NYPD in 2014 and was assigned to the 79th Precinct.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul released a statement calling Davius a “dedicated NYPD officer and decorated Army veteran” who “spent his career protecting others.”

Hochul said Davius served on Joint Task Force Empire Shield, “defending the state’s most high-profile locations from threats,” before he was deployed overseas.

“His life is a powerful reminder of the extraordinary sacrifices made by our National Guard members, who balance their roles as citizens, first responders and soldiers,” Hochul said. “Major Davius was a devoted husband and father. I personally conveyed my deepest condolences to his wife and will keep his family, colleagues and all who knew him in my thoughts. We continue to pray for the safety of every service member and first responder protecting us at home and abroad.”

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in a joint statement that Davius was a dedicated public servant.

“His career was defined by service — to his country and to New York City,” they said.

“Our thoughts are with Officer Davius and his entire family as they mourn his loss. May his memory be a blessing.”

The Israel Defense Forces said Saturday it carried out a precision strike targeting commanders from the Quds Force’s Lebanon Corps of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) operating in a Beirut hotel.

According to the IDF, the commanders were working to advance terror plots against Israel from Lebanese territory.

The military said the Quds Force’s Lebanon Corps acts as a liaison between Iran’s IRGC and the Hezbollah terror organization, supporting Hezbollah’s military buildup.

The IDF said it took steps to minimize civilian casualties before the strike, including the use of precision munitions and aerial surveillance.

“Prior to the strike, steps were taken to minimize the chance of harm to civilians,” the military said.

Israel added that it will continue targeting Iranian commanders operating in the region.

Two fuel depots at Kuwait International Airport were struck in a drone attack, sparking a large fire at one of the facilities, according to Kuwait’s Public Authority for Civil Aviation.

The authority said the depots came under attack Saturday, with the strike causing “a huge fire” at one of the sites.

Officials did not immediately say who was responsible for the attack or whether there were any casualties.

The development comes as drone and missile attacks have continued across the region amid the escalating conflict involving Iran and U.S.- and Israeli-backed forces.

U.S. Central Command pushed back Saturday on claims from Iran’s mission to the United Nations that Tehran has only targeted military sites during its attacks across the Middle East.

In a post on X, CENTCOM said the Iranian regime’s assertion that civilian strikes were the result of missiles being diverted by U.S. defenses was false.

“The Iranian regime recently claimed… that it has only tried to target military sites, and that its missiles and drones were thrown off course by U.S. Jedi mind tricks. LIE,” CENTCOM wrote.

The command said U.S. forces and regional partners have been working to defend against what it described as Iran’s “deliberate, indiscriminate and irresponsible targeting of civilian airports, hotels and residential neighborhoods.”

CENTCOM added that U.S. forces are continuing to operate alongside partners in the region to counter Iranian missile and drone attacks.

Fox News correspondent Lucas Tomlinson reported Saturday that Israeli forces struck Iranian oil refineries outside Tehran as the war with Iran continues to escalate.

Reporting from Dubai, Tomlinson said U.S. and Israeli forces are conducting strike operations at a pace comparable to the coalition’s air campaign during the Gulf War.

Part of the reason Israel has been able to sustain the long-range operations, roughly the distance from New York to Minneapolis, is the presence of about 100 U.S. Air Force aerial refueling aircraft in theater, Tomlinson said.

The USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group has moved from the eastern Mediterranean through the Suez Canal into the Red Sea, while the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group remains in the Arabian Sea.

The USS George H.W. Bush carrier strike group is preparing to deploy from Norfolk, potentially bringing three U.S. carrier groups into the region for a period of time.

The United Arab Emirates has been heavily targeted by Iranian missile and drone attacks, with more than 40% of Iran’s launches directed at the UAE.

The White House on Saturday honored the six U.S. service members killed while supporting Operation Epic Fury, sharing images from the dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base.

“The six fallen warriors represent the very best of America, giving everything in service to our country,” the White House wrote in a post on X.

“Their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.”

The post added: “Freedom is never free. May God bless them, their families, and the United States of America.”

Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth attended the solemn event alongside other members of the cabinet honoring the fallen service members.

One week into the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, two Republican senators on the Senate Armed Services Committee say the military operation has "degraded" Tehran's ability to strike back.

But in exclusive interviews with Fox News Digital, Sens. Rick Scott of Florida and Ted Budd of North Carolina emphasized the fighting will not lead to U.S. involvement in "forever wars" in the volatile Middle East.

"Our military is doing a great job," Scott said. Pointing to Iran, he added, "They want to destroy America. We've got to stop them."

Budd and Scott spoke while attending an economic conference in Florida hosted by the Club for Growth, an influential and politically potent conservative group that pushes for fiscal responsibility.

President Donald Trump, who called for Iran's "unconditional surrender," said Saturday that Tehran will be "hit very hard" and warned the U.S. is considering "areas and groups" not previously considered as targets.

Over the past week, Operation Epic Fury has widened in scope as Iran has retaliated against a growing number of nations in the region. This week, the Republican-controlled House and Senate, in separate votes nearly entirely along party lines, rejected moves by Democrats to restrict the president's ability to steer the fighting.

The president said Thursday in an interview with Axios he should be involved in choosing Iran's next leader. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the initial strikes against Iran a week ago.

And there are concerns among many on the right that the strikes against Iran could lead to prolonged American military involvement in the region, which Trump has repeatedly campaigned against during his three runs for the presidency.

"Trump doesn't want to be in forever wars. Every time I've talked to him, he doesn't want that," Scott said. "But I think what we do want to make sure we don't have another Ayatollah that wants to ... chant ‘Death to America’ and ‘death to our allies’ and try to destroy us."

Budd added that "we’re not up for forever wars. We want to get in, get this thing done, get out and have peace for our country and the rest of the region."

This is an excerpt of an article by Fox News Digital's Paul Steinhauser.

Video captured by The Associated Press shows large explosions and plumes of smoke rising above Tehran Saturday night as the conflict between Iran and U.S.-Israeli forces continues.

Clips taken show flashes in the sky followed by thick columns of smoke billowing over parts of the Iranian capital.

The strikes come as military operations targeting Iranian military and infrastructure sites have intensified in recent days under Operation Epic Fury.

Explosions and fires have been reported across Tehran as airstrikes hit key targets in and around the city.

Earlier Saturday, President Donald Trump warned that Iran would “be hit very hard” as the campaign against the regime’s military capabilities continues.

President Donald Trump explained what he means by Iran’s “unconditional surrender” during a conversation with reporters aboard Air Force One.

When asked what surrender would look like, Trump said it would come when Iran can no longer continue fighting.

“It’s where they cry uncle or when they can’t fight any longer,” Trump said.

He added that the outcome could also come if Iran’s leadership and military capabilities are eliminated.

“There's nobody around to cry uncle. That could happen, too, because, you know we've wiped their leadership numerous times already,” Trump said.

“So it's if they surrender or, if there is nobody around to surrender, but they're rendered useless in terms of military.”

A spokesperson for Vice President JD Vance pushed back Saturday on an ABC News report suggesting Vance has been deliberately keeping a low profile since the start of Operation Epic Fury.

“This is ridiculous,” Vance communications director William Martin wrote on X.

Martin was responding to ABC News correspondent Selina Wang, who wrote that Vance had been “noticeably absent” from a presidential summit in Florida and appeared to be maintaining a lower public profile during the war with Iran.

Martin said Vance had been attending the dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base for six U.S. service members killed while supporting operations overseas.

“The Vice President wasn’t keeping a low profile, he was just at Dover Air Force Base paying respects to six American heroes killed overseas,” Martin wrote.

He added that Vance had also appeared on primetime television since the start of Operation Epic Fury.

U.S. Central Command on Saturday released video showing American fighter jets launching from and landing on a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier as Operation Epic Fury continues.

The short video, posted to X with the caption “American-made firepower,” shows carrier-based fighter aircraft taking off and recovering on the flight deck at sea.

The clip showcases the U.S. Navy’s carrier strike capabilities as American forces continue military operations against Iran across the region.

CENTCOM has said U.S. forces are continuing to strike Iranian military targets and degrade the regime’s naval and missile capabilities.

President Donald Trump said Saturday that the United States no longer needs British military support in the Middle East after what he described as decisive battlefield success against Iran.

In a Truth Social post, Trump said the United Kingdom was “finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East,” but suggested the move was coming too late.

“That’s OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don’t need them any longer — But we will remember,” Trump wrote.

“We don’t need people that join Wars after we’ve already won!” he added.

The Pentagon issued a stark warning Saturday following the deaths of six U.S. service members killed during Operation Epic Fury.

“If you kill Americans, if you threaten Americans anywhere on earth, we will hunt you down without apology and without hesitation and we will kill you,” Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said in a statement shared by the Department of War.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell echoed the message on X, writing that “the biggest mistake anyone can make is killing an American.”

“We will hunt you down and avenge our fallen. That’s a promise,” Parnell said.

The remarks come as the U.S. mourns the six service members killed March 1 in a drone attack in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, while supporting Operation Epic Fury.

President Donald Trump declared Saturday that the U.S. is "taking out tremendous amounts of oil" from Venezuela while vowing to "take care" of Cuba’s regime following America’s focus on Iran. 

The president, speaking at the Shield of the Americas Summit in Florida, prefaced his remarks by saying that since the January operation to capture former Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, the administration has "been working closely with the new president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez," and, "she’s doing a great job working with us."

"And we're taking out tremendous amounts of oil. They're making more money now than they've ever made, ever made. We have the big oil companies in. They are making more money, we’re getting some," Trump said. "They're getting a lot. They're making more money now than they've ever made in the history of their country." 

"And I'm pleased to say that this week we have formally recognized the Venezuelan government. We've actually legally recognized them. We have also just reached a historic gold deal that's called the gold deal with Venezuela, to allow our two countries to work together to facilitate the sale of Venezuelan gold and other minerals," Trump continued, describing a license issued by the Treasury Department Friday that prohibits people and companies from Iran, North Korea, Russia and Cuba from doing business with Minerven – Venezuela's state-owned gold mining company – among other measures.

"As we achieve a historic transformation in Venezuela, we're also looking forward to the great change that will soon be coming to Cuba. Cuba's at the end of the line," Trump also said. "They're very much at the end of the line. They have no money, they have no oil. They have a bad philosophy. They have a bad regime that's been bad for a long time. And they used to get the money from Venezuela. They get the oil from Venezuela, but they don't have any money from Venezuela. They don't have any oil," Trump added. 

This is an excerpt from an article by Greg Norman-Diamond.

President Donald Trump disembarked from Air Force One at Dover Air Force base on Saturday afternoon for the dignified transfer of the six U.S. service members who were killed supporting Operation Epic Fury against Iran.

President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said the Gulf nation was in a time of war as he visited five civilians who were wounded in Iranian strikes.

 “The UAE has thick skin and bitter flesh – we are no easy prey,” said Sheikh Mohammed.

The UAE's Defense Ministry said on Saturday that it had intercepted Iranian missiles and drones, while attacks from Tehran left three dead and 112 wounded sine the start of the war.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

One week into the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, two Republican senators on the Senate Armed Services Committee say the military operation has "degraded" Tehran's ability to strike back.

But in exclusive interviews with Fox News Digital, Sens. Rick Scott of Florida and Ted Budd of North Carolina emphasized that the fighting will not lead to U.S. involvement in "forever wars" in the volatile Middle East.

"Our military is doing a great job," Scott said. And pointing to Iran, he said, "They want to destroy America. We've got to stop them."

Budd highlighted that "we have significantly degraded Iran's ability to shoot back at us... their capacities are degraded. We've had great success."

Budd and Scott were interviewed as they attended an economic conference in Florida hosted by the Club for Growth, an influential and politically potent conservative group that pushes for fiscal responsibility.

This is an excerpt from an article by Paul Steinhauser.

Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) all reported interceptions of Iranian missiles and drones on Saturday, hours after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran would halt attacks on neighboring nations.

The UAE's Defense Ministry said it was intercepting missiles and drones, while Qatar's Defense Ministry said it intercepted a missile attack. Additionally, sirens went off in Bahrain for the seventh time on Saturday.

Hours before the reported interceptions, Pezeshkian apologized to neighboring countries and said Iran would only launch attacks if it was hit first.

“I should apologize to the neighboring countries that were attacked by Iran, on my own behalf,” he said, according to The Associated Press. “From now on, they should not attack neighboring countries or fire missiles at them, unless we are attacked by those countries. I think we should solve this through diplomacy.”

The apology came after U.S. Central Command called out Friday how Iran has attacked 12 different counties in the region since Operation Epic Fury began. CENTCOM said those attacks included Iran firing attack drones at civilian, residential neighborhoods in Bahrain.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Saturday released a video of the Israeli Air Force (IAF) intercepting an Iranian UAV before it was able to cross into Israeli territory.

"Since the start of Operation ‘Roaring Lion’, the Israeli Air Force has intercepted over 110 UAVs that were launched by the Iranian terror regime toward the State of Israel," the IDF said in a statement.

"Operation Roaring Lion" is the name that Israel uses for Operation Epic Fury.

"This is part of a central IDF effort to thwart the threats to Israeli civilians while degrading the Iranian terrorist regime’s military infrastructure," the IDF added.

President Donald Trump on Saturday addressed the Shields of the Americas summit in Doral, Fla., where he spoke about Operation Epic Fury. The president touted U.S. forces' successes and spoke about the six service members who lost their lives.

"We're doing very well in Iran. You see the result and it's been amazing. We've knocked out 42 Navy ships, some of them very large, in three days. That was the end of the Navy. We knocked out their air force. We knocked out their communications, and all telecommunications is gone. I don't know how they communicate, but I guess they they will figure something out," Trump said.

The president also said the world has witnessed the "supreme power" of the United States over the last year.

The U.S. State Department said on Saturday that more than 28,000 American citizens had returned to the U.S. from the Middle East since the start of Operation Epic Fury. The department said the figures do not include Americans who safely relocated to other countries or those who have left the Middle East and are on their way to the U.S.

The State Department said it had completed over a dozen charter flights to evacuate Americans from the Middle East. Additionally, the department said that while flight availability was improving, it would "ramp up" flights and ground transport operations, depending on the security situation.

The department said American citizens in Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Israel in need of travel assistance should complete the Crisis Intake Form. 

U.S. citizens in the Middle East who are in need of assistance can call the department's taskforce 24/7, at +1-202-501-4444.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Defense said on Saturday that the country's air defense systems intercepted 16 ballistic missiles, 15 of which were destroyed while one fell into the sea. Additionally, the air defense systems detected 121 UAVs, 119 of which were intercepted, while the other two fell within the UAE's territory.

"Since the start of the blatant Iranian aggression, a total of 221 ballistic missiles have been detected, of which 205 were destroyed, while 14 fell into the sea and two missiles landed within the territory of the UAE," the ministry wrote on X. "A total of 1,305 Iranian UAVs have also been detected, of which 1,229 were intercepted, while 76 UAVs fell within the territory of the UAE. Eight cruise missiles were also detected and destroyed."

The UAE's Ministry of Defense noted that Iran's attacks resulted in "three deaths of Pakistani, Nepali and Bangladeshi nationals, and 112 minor injuries among individuals of Emirati, Egyptian, Ethiopian, Filipino, Pakistani, Iranian, Indian, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Azerbaijani, Yemeni, Ugandan, Eritrean, Lebanese, Afghan, Bahraini, Comorian and Turkish nationalities."

Earlier on Saturday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologized to neighboring nations and said that Tehran would halt its attacks unless it was hit first.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Saturday that more than 80 Israeli Air Force (IAF) fighter jets carried out a series of strikes in Iran. Among the targets was a university that the IDF said used by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to train its officers. Other targets hit in the strikes included ballistic missile storage facilities, underground missile command infrastructure and launch sites aimed at Israel that were located in western and central Iran.

"These strikes degrade the Iranian regime’s ability to fire at Israeli civilians," the IDF said.

Israel and the U.S. launched the conflict with Iran one week ago as both countries carried out attacks against Tehran. One of the strikes on Feb. 28 led to the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the U.S. was building ten new battleships that will be "100 times more powerful" than the ones from the 1940s.

"We're building a thing called a battleship, like in the old days," Trump said, remembering the U.S. Naval might seen during the World War II-era. "They're pieces of art. Beautiful. Most beautiful. The big battleships of the 1940s."

In remarks at the Shield of the Americas summit in Doral, Florida, Trump said he was told the new ships being built today are "100 times more powerful than what we were looking at with those guns."

"We don't want to use them. But by having them, nobody's going to play games," Trump said. "So just good to have. We don't want to use them. They'll say, oh, he's very militaristic. I'm the one that ended eight wars."

While speaking at the Shield of the Americas summit, President Donald Trump said that the U.S. would keep the war with Iran "to a minimum," referencing the deaths of six U.S. service members.

"I'll be leaving for Dover. Very sad situation to greet the families of the heroes who are coming home from Iran, coming home in a different manner than they thought they'd be coming home. But they're great heroes in our country, and we're going to keep it that way. And as always, when it comes to war, there's always that. But we're going to keep it to a minimum, I think," Trump said in Doral, Florida.

The president added that Operation Epic Fury was "going to be something of service that we're really providing not for the Middle East, but for the world." 

"These were sick people, very sick people," Trump added.

President Donald Trump said at the Shield of the Americas summit that Iran would have had a nuclear weapon if the U.S. had not carried out Operation Midnight Hammer last summer.

"They were very close to a nuclear weapon. They would have had one if we didn't do our B-2 hit Midnight Hammer, they would have had it eight months ago. They would have had a nuclear weapon," Trump said in Doral, Florida.

President Donald Trump is addressing the Shield of Americas summit, a gathering of leaders from the Western Hemisphere aimed at fostering cooperation to combat drug cartels, as the U.S. continues its attacks on Iran.

Argentine President Javier Milei, Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz Pereira, Chilean President-elect Jose Antonio Kast, Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves Robles, Dominican President Luis Rodolfo Abinader Corona, Ecuadorian President Daniel Roy Gilchrist Noboa Azín, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele Ortez, Guyanese President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, Honduran President Nasry “Tito” Asfura, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino Quintero, Paraguayan President Santiago Peña and Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar are expected to attend the summit.

While the leaders meet, American forces are continuing to carry out Operation Epic Fury against Iran.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson for Arabic media Col. Avichay Adraee issued warnings to civilians in Lebanon to evacuate certain areas as Israel hits Iranian proxy Hezbollah. The warnings included maps showing areas of southern Lebanon that the IDF planned to hit.

"The IDF will soon strike military infrastructure belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organization, following its prohibited attempts to restore its activity in the area," the warning read. "We call on residents of the structures marked in red on the attached map, as well as those in nearby structures: you are located near structures used by Hezbollah. For your safety, you must evacuate immediately and move at least 300 meters away."

The IDF went on to warn that "remaining in the area of the marked structures puts you at risk."

The IDF hit multiple Hezbollah targets after the terrorist organization launched rockets and drones toward Israel on March 2, its first attack since a November 2024 ceasefire ended the previous round of fighting. 

Fox News Digital's Efrat Lachter contributed to this report.

President Donald Trump mocked Iran as the "loser of the Middle East" after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologized to neighboring nations and vowed to stop attacking them unless it was hit first.

In a Truth Social post Saturday, Trump said Iran would maintain that "loser" status for decades "until they surrender or, more likely, completely collapse."

In response to Operation Epic Fury, Iran had launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks against at least 12 other countries in the region, and some Arab states signaled a bolstered military posture and were weighing possible military action against Iran.

"Iran, which is being beat to HELL, has apologized and surrendered to its Middle East neighbors, and promised that it will not shoot at them anymore," Trump wrote on Truth Social on Saturday. "This promise was only made because of the relentless U.S. and Israeli attack. 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. They have said, 'Thank you President Trump'," he continued. "I have said, 'You’re welcome!' 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!"

"Today Iran will be hit very hard!" Trump vowed. "Under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death, because of Iran’s bad behavior, are areas and groups of people that were not considered for targeting up until this moment in time. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi cautioned European nations against joining the ongoing war in the Middle East during an interview with FRANCE 24.

Takht-Ravanchi told the outlet that Iran "already informed the Europeans and everybody else that they should be careful not to be involved in this war of aggression against Iran." He went on to warn that any country that "joins America and Israel in the aggression against Iran, they will be also legitimate targets for Iran's retaliation."

The deputy foreign minister said that Iran was "negotiating in good faith" with the U.S. prior to the launch of Operation Epic Fury.

Takht-Ravanchi's statement came hours before Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran would stop attacking neighboring nations unless it was attacked first.

Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly spoke with Iranian President ​Masoud Pezeshkian and offered his condolences for civilians killed in what he called "the armed Israeli-American ‌aggression against Iran." He also reportedly offered his sympathies over the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The Russian president called for a cessation of hostilities in Iran and a return to diplomacy in a statement released by the Kremlin, according to Reuters.

"Vladimir Putin reaffirmed Russia's principled stance in favour of an immediate ​cessation of hostilities, the rejection of force ​as a method to solve any issues surrounding Iran or ‌arising ⁠in the Middle East, and a swift return to the path of diplomatic resolution," the Kremlin said, according to Reuters.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday apologized to neighboring countries that have been attacked by Iran, adding that future attacks will only take place in response to an attack.

“I should apologize to the neighboring countries that were attacked by Iran, on my own behalf,” he said, according to The Associated Press. “From now on, they should not attack neighboring countries or fire missiles at them, unless we are attacked by those countries. I think we should solve this through diplomacy.”

Pezeshkian made the apology during a prerecorded televised speech on Saturday after Iran launched repeated strikes on Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman.

The decision came after Iran's temporary leadership council talked with the country's armed forces amid alleged miscommunication in the ranks following the deaths of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other leaders.

Pezeshkian also stated during the speech that the United States' demand for an unconditional surrender is a "dream that they should take to their grave."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.