Pezeshkian Clarifies: Iran Targeted US Bases, Not Gulf Neighbours

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian posted a series of social media statements on Day 8 afternoon clarifying the framing of his Gulf apology broadcast. Pezeshkian wrote: The Islamic Republic of Iran has always emphasised the preservation and continuation of friendly relations with the governments of the region based on good neighbourliness and mutual respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity. This does not negate Iran's inherent right to defend itself against military aggression by the United States and the Zionist regime. He continued: We stand and resist to the death to defend our country. We have not attacked our friendly and neighbouring countries, but rather targeted American military bases, installations, and facilities in the region. The statement is a clarification designed to manage the political framing of the Gulf ceasefire announcement. Pezeshkian is drawing a distinction between Iranian strikes on Gulf state territory adjacent to US military infrastructure — which Iran frames as targeting US bases — and attacks on Gulf state civilian or national infrastructure. The distinction matters legally and diplomatically: it allows Iran to maintain a position of not having attacked sovereign Gulf state targets while acknowledging that strikes occurred in Gulf state territory. Trump dismissed this framing entirely, declaring Iran had surrendered to its neighbours.