Global News Podcast - Iran president apologises for striking neighbours

Episode Date: March 7, 2026

The Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, has said Iran will stop striking its neighbours as long as no attacks originate from them; he's apologised for Tehran's attacks on those countries in the past week. President Trump has referred to that apology in a post on social media, saying "this promise was only made because of the relentless U.S. and Israeli attack". He added that today Tehran "will be hit very hard." Israel is continuing to pound Lebanon, saying it's targetting strongholds of the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah; Ghanaian UN peacekeepers have been wounded in a missile attack. Also, we hear from northern Iraq, where Kurdish Iranian opposition groups have been coming under attack. And we talk to an international journalist based in the Iranian capital Tehran. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: [e-mail]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. Does Benjamin Netanyahu have everything to gain from the war with Iran and Donald Trump a lot more to lose? With elections in both the US and Israel this year, how risky is the decision to go to war? This is the Global Story podcast and we've been speaking to the BBC's international editor, Jeremy Bowen, about whether Netanyahu and Trump's visions for Iran align.

Listen to the global story on BBC.com wherever you get your podcasts. This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Charlotte Gallagher and this is an extra edition of the Global News podcast to update you on the developments in the US-Israel War with Iran on Saturday the 7th of March. Today's main stories. The Iranian president, Massoud Peshkian, says Iran will stop striking its Arab neighbors as long as no attacks originate from their territory.

President Trump has characterized the remark as a surrender in response to relentless US and Israeli bombardment. And we'll hear from northern Iraq, where Kurdish-Iranian opposition groups have been coming under attack. And? I'm located in the very centre, close to the compound of the supreme leader that was actually attacking the first moment of the Israel and American attack. I feel it like it was like two streets from me.

Mayhout. One Tehran resident tells us about her experience of the war so far. As the U.S.-Israel war with Iran enters its second week, the Iranian president has apologized to Iran's Arab neighbors for striking them with missiles and drones. Arab countries hosting U.S. military bases are adamant. They've not allowed them to be used to launch attacks against Iran. Several Gulf countries also try to dissuade Washington from starting its bombing campaign. In a televised speech, President Massoud Pezeshkian said attacks would stop as long as no attacks come from those countries. I should apologise to the neighbouring countries that were attacked by Iran on my own behalf.

What happened was that our commanders and our leader lost their lives following the barbaric aggression and our armed forces, the champions that are sacrificing their lives to defend our territorial integrity, fired at will because their commanders were absent and did whatever was necessary. They proudly and powerfully defended our homeland. On Friday, President Trump said only Iran's unconditional surrender would end hostilities. But President Pezeshkiyakan ruled that out. That we surrender unconditionally, they should take that dream to their graves. What we are committed to are international law.

human frameworks, and the principles they talk about, they should be committed to those principles. Our chief international correspondent, Leicester, who was reporting from Iran not long ago, listened to the president's speech. The president is known for trying to strike conciliatory tones. You may remember that during the major protests, which were put down with lethal force, he apologized for the government's shortcomings, at least in economic matters, not in political ones. And here he is again now today offering a conciliatory tone apologizing to neighboring states, particularly in the Gulf, which have been coming under attack by Iranian forces.

But he made it clear that this was not just his gesture. He said that a decision had been made by Iran's current leadership. It's a three-man interim leadership council. And they had decided that they would make this clear to neighboring states. And he had this interesting explanation. and we heard of it earlier from the foreign minister Abbasidakshi when he was embarrassed that Oman, which is a key mediator for a long time, had also been hit by Iranian strides. And he said that the command had been decentralized.

So again, Paschishan said that army officers, he said, had been firing at will in the absence of a top command. So one would suggest that they're going to try to make their decisions a bit more consolidated, if they can. But there was still the caveat. that if attacks by the US or Israel originate in countries with military bases, they would still be a target. So it's not clear what impact it will have. And it's been brushed off by President Trump. Yes, and I should say that the decision of the leadership and his apology

is in response to the fury among Arab leaders. I spoke to a senior official in the Gulf yesterday, and he said they were absolutely shocked by Iran strikes and said it would take decades for this rupture to be healed, that there was no going back. And he said, after this, he said, if we ever sit down for negotiations, ballistic missiles will have to be on them,

because they are clearly a threat. And yes, to President Trump, of course, how swiftly he responded in the middle of the night in the United States. And he says, I'll read a little bit of it. Iran, which is beat to hell. Hell in capital letters has apologized and surrendered to its Middle East neighbors

and promise that it will not shoot at them anymore. And then he goes on to say, he says, Iran is along with the bully of the Middle East. And then in capital letters, they are the loser of the Middle East. It's such a harsh tone. And he said that they will, they're going to be hit very hard. And sadly, it has an echo of some of those petulant messages he has sent before. And it's hard to remember that about a year ago, he said he wanted to be remembered as the president of peace and a unified.

in the world. Now there is talk of regime alteration in the wake of what's happened in Venezuela, of course. And I guess Donald Trump has been talking about, you know, he personally being involved in who will be the next leader in Iran and finding another Delci Rodriguez, the equivalent of the Venezuelan deputy who has sort of stepped up now to become an American ally in the wake of Maduro being taken into prison. I think President Trump is realizing that his second job as commander-in-chief gives him this extraordinary sway, and he has such powerful military weapons, the strongest stuff in the world, and therefore he can lose them at will. He calls Venezuela the perfect scenario, but it simply wouldn't work in Iran to take the leader off and then work

with the administration that's left. That was Lise Doucette. Our correspondent Barbara Platt-Ushah has also been listening to the Iranian president's statement from the Qatari capital, Doha. As Mr. Pasechki and the president was issuing his recording, there was a missile attack here, which the Qatari's intercepted. There have also been missile and drone strikes this morning. So I think it will be greeted with a fair bit of skepticism. Now, what the president said was that the Iranian military units had acted on their own authority and did what they deemed necessary after their commanders were killed. It suggests that he's speaking about the decentralized defense strategy that the Iranians organized in the anticipation that Israel and the U.S. would go after their top leadership, so in effect saying that local commanders could continue to carry on without centralized orders. So it sounds like the leadership, at least the diplomatic and political leadership, is trying to control a situation that has very much angered their Arab neighbors and perhaps they are seeing that it is not helping their case, the Iranian case,

because it seems more and more that the Gulf leadership has been joining ranks with the United States rather than arguing Iran's case. And is there a sense of shock in Qatar that they've been drawn into this conflict? Yes and no. Before the war started, Qatar and the other Arab countries in this region warned the U.S. that there could be dire consequences. They all host U.S. military bases, and the Iranians had said quite clearly that they would target the U.S. military bases. They also warned the U.S. that if the leadership felt there was an existential threat, that it was being targeted directly, then it could get much worse than that, and it might even involve the Iranians targeting their oil and gas industry, and that is what has happened, so it is their

not their worst case scenario. But I think the week of quite relentless, or at least regular, I would say, missile and drone fire from Iran. And the fact that it has hit residential areas and civilian infrastructure as well is something that has really, I'm not sure if they were quite expecting that. I don't know if the civilians were expecting that. It has been something that has really hit the region hard. And you've had some very sharp statements from some of the officials, especially in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. That was Barbara Plattosha, reporting from Doha. As we record this podcast, Iranian media reports say two influential clerics

have called for a quick selection of the new Supreme Leader to help steer the nation amid the ongoing US and Israeli strikes. President Trump has argued the US should have a role in choosing the new leader, a demand rejected by Tehran. Israel is continuing to pound Lebanon, saying it's targeting strongholds of the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah. Two Ghanaian UN peacekeepers have been critically wounded in a missile attack. The Lebanese Health Ministry says more than 200 people have been killed since airstrikes began.

The Prime Minister, Nawaf Salam, has warned a humanitarian disaster is looming as hundreds of thousands of people are being forced to leave their homes ahead of an anticipated ground incursion by the Israeli military. Tanya Babin from the humanitarian group Med Global is based in Beirut. What we're witnessing right now in Lebanon is an extremely rapid humanitarian escalation. So in the last almost 72 hours now since the massive evacuation orders in the south, in Dahlia, in the southern suburbs of Beirut and in the Bikha region, which is northeast, the scale and the speed of this displacement, it's pushing humanitarian resources to the absolute brink.

shelters are filling up so quickly. The authorities are now trying to prepare, as of last night, one of the main sports stadiums in Beirut, to try to accommodate these additional displaced families. These families, remember, are fleeing. They're given a very short time to leave their homes. Many people are arriving at shelters with no basic supplies, nothing. I've been speaking to our correspondent in Beirut, Lena Sinjarb.

She first told me about those two UN peacekeepers that have been critically injured. The statement coming out from the UNIFEL that the peacekeeping mission in the south of Lebanon, that a missile hit their base yesterday. At least three were injured, but two in critical condition. The statement did not specify the source of the attack. However, the Lebanese president, Josefón, came out to condemn the attack and blame it on Israel defense forces, who they didn't make any statement about that. And in the last round of war in 2024, there were several attacks by IDF on UN peacekeeping mission in the South. It's really worrying that in this time, these kind of attacks continue on peacekeeping missions. Just in the past hour, we've heard of an attack in the Beka Valley, at least a dozen people, probably more were killed,

which will bring the number of the total dead over 200, and that's likely to increase. For Lebanese people, they've gone. through this so many times. I mean, I read an interview with one woman today who said, look, I've not even finished repairing my house from the last set of military strikes and now it's been damaged again. You know, I spoke to one person who said it's generation after generation. It's his grandmother fled with his mother and then his mother fled with him and now he's fleeing with his children. So it's really generation after generation living in this war with Israel. But this time you can see more voices critical of Hezbollah because really they didn't want any involvement.

They haven't recovered from the last war in 2024. And yet Hezbollah decided to launch rockets into Israel, prompting this retaliation and attack on civilians in big numbers. Do you think this could be a real turning point for Hezbollah in Lebanon? Because as you said, support for them is weakening and people are just so fed up with this situation. You know, I think the political decision and the public decision, is clear about Hezbollah, but this is not a group that was established yesterday. They've started in the 1982 by Iran with the Revolutionary Guard. They've trained them. They've established them and they funded them until they've reached this point. Although in the last war in 2024,

they've lost 5,000 of their fighters, most of their leaders, Israel destroyed their weapons depot. But we can see today that they've managed to rearm themselves and they still have tens of thousands of fighters. So it really is going to cause a big rift in the society. And yesterday, the Lebanese Prime Minister asked for international help. Is there any sign that is coming? I think the international community made it clear first the decision and the action to be taken from the Lebanese government, from the Lebanese army, so that they would be able to chip in. Even on the level of financial aid to rebuild and reconstruct, they also want to monitor the country that government with long reputation of corruption. So there are lots of lists of demands. So there are lots of

from the international community from Lebanon before anyone can come in and help. But actually, the key issue is what to do with Hezbollah and how to stop them. That was Lena Sinjarb in Beirut. Iraq has also been dragged into the conflict. There have been some explosions at several locations overnight. Drones attacked oil facilities in Basra and rockets targeted a complex near Baghdad airport, which has a military base and a US diplomatic facility. Iran is also stepping up its attacks.

on Kurdish-Iranian opposition groups at their bases in northern Iraq. Ola Gherin is in Abil, the capital of the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Iraq is trying hard to stay out of the war next door. That's getting harder to do. Late last night, after about 10 o'clock local time, we had a series of explosions which we could hear.

Now, they were actually interceptions of four drones, which security officials here are saying were bomb-laden drones. and which appeared to have been targeting one of the main hotels here, quite a high-profile location. In the end, they were shot down, debris fell in an open area, no injuries, no casualties, but it certainly increased the tension here. And there had been a warning shortly before that from the US Embassy,

telling its citizens to get out of hotels in the city because they believe that they might be targeted. Now, the attack has been claimed by one of those pro-Iran militias. It's an Iraqi group based here, but supportive of the regime across the border. And we heard open threats yesterday from Tehran, a senior official there saying that facilities here, all kinds of facilities would be targeted if Kurdish Peshmerga fighters cross the border from here into Iran.

Now, that's a story that's been bubbling for the past few days. These Peshmerga fighters here are part of opposition groups, Iranian Kurdish groups that have been here for decades. President Trump is now openly encouraging them to get involved in the war. You'll have heard that he said it's a wonderful idea and he's all for it. So far they say they have not crossed the border. The authorities in Baghdad and the authorities here in Erbil, which is an autonomous Kurdish region, both say we do not want them to do that,

we do not want to get involved. We don't want our territory being used to launch attacks on our neighbour. But as the days go by here, the tension, the level of tension, is increasing, and I would say the risk for Iraq of becoming embroiled. That was all Agarind, reporting from Iraq. It remains difficult to know exactly what's going on inside Iran. The BBC, like most international media, can't freely report from the country and communications with people there remain difficult.

But a few international journalists are still able to report from Tehran. Catalina Gomez has lived there for around 20 years and reports for the French News Channel, France 24, and Spain's Land Vanguardia newspaper. She spoke to James Menendez and began by telling him about the attacks which hit the city on Friday. It was basically around 5, 5.10 in the morning that several explosions came.

Like they were dropping the bombs very consecutive and it lasted for five minutes. It was very strong. Everything was shaking. You can feel the sound of the plane on the earth. Immediately all these pictures from Tehran start going out in the social media. They were very strong.

You could see this huge attack in the city and it continues during the date in different parts, east, west and in the afternoon came back to the center very strongly. And those ones early in the morning at dawn. I mean, how close to you were they, do you think? I'm located in the very centre, close to the compound of the Supreme Leader that was actually attacking the first moment of the Israel and American attack. I feel it like it was like two streets from my house. And more generally, I mean, are you able to find out what is being hit in this campaign? Tehran is a very, very secure city with a lot of checkpoints of different militia groups like the Basijis or the special forces or the special police.

Then there are some areas that is very difficult to transit around. It's interesting you talk about the checkpoints and the presence of the militias and so on. That suggests that much of the regime's military apparatus and personnel, I mean, they're all still in place. It's not like people have been deserting their posts, is it? I mean, what we know and we would see in the streets is they are not deserting. They are really much there. I know that they have been attacking bases of militias, but we can see in the streets that they are so much presence.

But I also have to point something interesting. Two days ago, I was in the north of the city close to a very famous place in Tehran, Tajriis. It's usually very crowded. Of course, these days it's not crowded because, we are in holidays because they declare seven days of mourning. But some people close to the system were there with flags and chanting slogans, remembering supreme leader, but also against America and Israel. And it was full of checkpoints that day, very difficult and very dangerous because they were showing their guns very openly. But today I was there and it was

very, very quiet. It's Friday. People should be out. And also, there were almost no checkpoints that really chose something because very empty. I never see in my life there, Anna's empty. So people clearly staying at home. And are you able to speak to people at all in the city and find out what they think about what's going on? I mean, clearly people are worried, but I just wonder whether, you know, people welcome what's happening. I mean, what are their thoughts about what the days and weeks to come might hold? People are worried, but people have different approach depending on where they are. I mean, people who support the system and is mourning the supreme leader, they are very much requesting for revenge and they are really

against America and Israel, but they believe that Iran has to go until the end. And you have other people who are really, really worried because it's. even if they are against the Islamic Republic, they are worried what is happening with the country and what is going to happen after. And they are also very worried of being a big team of these attacks, of the Israelis, of America. And also they are very afraid of these militias

and these checkpoints in the streets that something will happen to them. That's why people are trying to be very careful, being in their house or out of the city. That was Catalina Gomez speaking to James Menendez from Tehran. And that's all from us for now. If you want to get in touch, you can email us at Global Podcast at BBC.co. You can also find us on X at BBC World Service.

Use the hashtag Global NewsPod. And don't forget our sister podcast, The Global Story. This edition of the Global News Podcast was mixed by Craig Kingham and the producer was Stephen Jensen. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Charlotte Gallagher. Until next time, goodbye. Does Benjamin Netanyahu have everything to gain?

from the war with Iran and Donald Trump a lot more to lose. With elections in both the US and Israel this year, how risky is the decision to go to war? This is the Global Story podcast, and we've been speaking to the BBC's international editor, Jeremy Bowen, about whether Netanyahu and Trump's visions for Iran align. Listen to the global story on BBC.com, wherever you get your podcasts.