The President of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, has announced that the country’s temporary governing council has instructed the Iranian military to stop launching attacks on neighboring countries in the Middle East.
In a televised address broadcast on state television, Pezeshkian said Iran had never intended to target its neighbors, describing them as “brothers” with whom Iran seeks peace and development.
“We never had a plan to attack neighboring countries because they are our brothers,” he said. “We should work together with our friends in the region to achieve peace and prosperity.”
New Directive to the Military
Pezeshkian explained that on March 6, 2026, Iran’s interim governing council met and ordered the armed forces to halt missile strikes against neighboring states unless Iran itself comes under direct attack.
“Our decision yesterday, which has been communicated to the military, is that from now on Iran should not target neighboring countries or launch missiles toward them unless they attack us first,” he stated.
Escalation Following U.S.–Israel Strikes
The announcement comes after United States and Israel launched major strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026. The attacks reportedly killed several senior Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with top military officials and nuclear scientists.
In retaliation, Iran launched missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and several Middle Eastern countries hosting U.S. military bases, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Syria.
Some of the attacks damaged U.S. military facilities and infrastructure in the region, while civilian infrastructure such as hotels, airports, and oil and gas installations were also affected.
Iran Calls for Diplomacy
President Pezeshkian emphasized that Iran does not seek war with its neighbors and prefers diplomatic dialogue to resolve the crisis.
However, the United States and Israel have said their operations against Iran will continue until the country’s nuclear infrastructure, long-range missile capabilities, and missile production facilities are completely dismantled. Both nations have also indicated support for Iranians seeking political change within their country.