Israel and the United States have intensified their offensive against Iran, broadening their focus to include the country’s energy infrastructure. On Saturday, Israeli strikes hit oil storage depots and refining facilities in Tehran for the first time, sparking huge fires that burned in parts of the capital and sending up thick smoke that blackened the city.
US President Donald Trump said the US and Israel had “decimated” the Iranian regime and demanded an “unconditional surrender”, although he gave little explanation. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump He described unconditional surrender as the point “when they cry uncle or when they can’t fight anymore and there’s no one around to cry uncle.”
Trump made the comments hours after visiting Dover Air Force Base in Delaware for the dignified transfer of six U.S. service members killed in the early days of the conflict. He added that the deaths are “part of the war.”
“No, we’re winning the war by a lot. We decimated their entire evil empire. I’m sure it will continue for a while, but I’m very proud of the people,” Trump said, adding that the deaths were “part of the war.”
Trump also said he does not want Iranian Kurdish groups to get involved in the war with Iran. “We are not waiting for the Kurds to come in. We are very friendly to the Kurds, as you know, but we do not want to make the war more complex than it already is.”
The war began on February 28 and dealt a severe blow to Iran by killing the country’s supreme leader, Ayotollah Ali Khamenei. Several other senior officials were also reported dead. The attack also killed Khamenei’s family.
“Iran can continue ‘intense war’ for six months”
Iranian Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) spokesman Ali Mohammad Naini said Iran is capable enough to continue this “intense war” for six months, The Guardian reported.
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“The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran are capable of continuing at least an intense six-month war at the current pace of operations.”
Middle East bears the brunt
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologizes to Gulf nations for its recent attacks from Tehran. However, Pezeshkian added, the attacks will stop unless the attacks against Iran originate on its territory.
“I consider it necessary to apologize to the neighboring countries that were attacked,” he said. “We have no intention of invading neighboring countries.”
Pezeshkian’s office later clarified that he meant “if countries in the region do not cooperate in the US attack against us, we will not attack them.”
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Despite the apology, the region continues to face bombing by Iran, with several countries reporting attacks and defensive interceptions over the weekend.
In Kuwait, the military said it intercepted several ballistic missiles on Sunday. Authorities also reported a “wave of hostile drones” targeting fuel storage facilities at Kuwait International Airport. The headquarters of the Public Social Security Institution also suffered “material damage,” CNN reported.
Saudi Arabia also reported missile attacks on its territory, saying it intercepted 21 ballistic missiles in the early hours of Sunday. Meanwhile, in Bahrain, the Interior Ministry said a fire broke out at a facility at the Mina Salman seaport. Emergency teams were sent to the scene and are working to control the fire, the ministry added.
The UAE’s National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority said on X Sunday that they were “currently responding to a missile threat.”
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‘Will continue attacking Iran’: Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday that Israel will continue to attack Iran “with all our strength,” CNN reported.
In a pre-recorded statement, Netanyahu claimed to have achieved “almost complete control” over Iranian skies, adding that there are “many more targets as surprises are being prepared.”
“We will destabilize the regime and allow change,” he said.
Is Iran ready to be a democratic country?
Netanyahu threatened Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, saying: “They are being targeted.” He also said that this joint military action will create an opportunity for the Iranian people to take control of their nation.
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He also warned Lebanon to fulfill its commitment under the November 2024 ceasefire agreement and disarm Hezbollah. Hezbollah has been intensifying its attack on Israel in revenge for Khamenei’s assassination.
“Failure to do so will have disastrous consequences for Lebanon. It is time for them to take their destiny into their own hands. We will do whatever is necessary to protect our citizens,” he said.
However, Trump said Friday that now that Iran’s leadership has been neutralized, he is looking for new leadership that will treat the United States and Israel well, even if it is a religious leader and is not a democratic state.
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“Iran is not the same country that it was a week ago. A week ago they were powerful and now they have effectively been emasculated,” Tump told CNN in a brief phone call.
He added that he will participate in electing a new leader for Iran, just as he did for Venezuela, adding that he does not care about a religious leader.
“Well, maybe so, I mean, it depends on who the person is. I don’t care about religious leaders. I deal with a lot of religious leaders and they’re fantastic.”
Asked whether he insists that Iran be a democratic state, Trump said: “No, what I’m saying is that there has to be a leader who is fair and just. Do a great job. Treat the United States and Israel well, and treat the other countries in the Middle East; they are all our partners.”
