Iran's president described the United States’s demand for an unconditional surrender as a "dream that they should take to their grave" as he apologised for attacks on regional countries, insisting that Tehran would halt them.
Masoud Pezeshkian made the statement in a pre-recorded address aired by Iranian state television on Saturday morning.
It came after Tehran’s Mehrabad airport was hit by explosions, with video footage showing a burning plane and plumes of smoke rising into the sky.
The Mehrabad airport is Iran's busiest commercial airport and main domestic hub. It also serves the Iranian air force.
The attack followed Donald Trump – who was reported to express serious interest in deploying a limited US force on the ground – saying the US military was doing “phenomenally” against Iran as he demanded Tehran's “unconditional surrender”.
US treasury secretary Scott Bessent, meanwhile, warned on Friday: “Tonight will be our biggest bombing campaign. We'll do the most damage to the Iranian missile launchers, the factories that build the missiles, and we are substantially degrading them."
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Sadiq Khan backs Starmer amid continued Trump criticism
Political reporter Athena Stavrou writes:
The mayor of London has weighed in on Sir Keir Starmer’s response to the outbreak of war in the Middle East, amid continued criticism from Donald Trump aimed at both himself and the prime minister.
Sir Sadiq Khan, who has been personally targeted by the US president a number of times, said Sir Keir “is right to stand up to Donald Trump over Iran”.
Earlier this week, the US president unleashed another rant about the UK, criticising Sir Keir for not immediately allowing the US to use British bases to attack Iran and also called the London mayor an “incompetent guy”.
Weighing in on the unfolding crisis in the Middle East, Sir Sadiq wrote: “Keir Starmer is right to resist pressure from US President Donald Trump to join strikes on Iran. This is a war of choice – one that is not only causing needless killing and suffering abroad, but could lead to a huge economic shock at home, massively worsening the cost-of-living crisis for Londoners.”
He added: “While the brutal Iranian regime should rightly be condemned and international pressure applied, the US and Israeli action is not the right course to follow. The US have launched this military action, even though it will do so much damage to our economy and those of our closest allies.”
Dan Haygarth7 March 2026 11:27
Trump says 'today Iran will be hit very hard' as he responds to Pezeshkian
The US president wrote on Truth Social this morning: “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.
“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.” 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! 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!”
Dan Haygarth7 March 2026 11:20
Third UK government flight to leave Oman tomorrow
A third UK government flight will be leaving Muscat, Oman, tomorrow, the Press Assocation has reported.
The Foreign Office is also exploring options to charter a flight from Dubai to bring people back from the Middle East as the conflict continues.
More than 9,000 Brits have returned from the United Arab Emirates since widespread conflict began in the region seven days ago.
Dan Haygarth7 March 2026 11:14
Fires light Tehran skyline after strikes hit Iran Mehrabad Airport
Fires light Tehran skyline after strikes hit Iran Mehrabad Airport
Footage shows Tehran’s skyline being lit up by flames as Mehrabad Airport was hit by explosions on Saturday (7 March). Video shows plumes of smoke rising into the sky from the direction of the airport, which is one of Iran’s busiest and serves as its main domestic hub. It also serves as a facility for the nation’s air force. Videos shared on social media confirmed the attack on the airport and the location has been verified by the Reuters news agency. Hours earlier, satellite imagery of the airport showed multiple aircraft on the premises.Dan Haygarth7 March 2026 10:57
Bombing of girls’ school in Iran that killed more than 150 was probably US air strike, military investigators believe
US military investigators reportedly believe American forces were likely responsible for a strike on an Iranian school in Minab, in what analysts and human rights officials believe is the deadliest incident for civilian casualties since Donald Trump’s administration and Israeli forces began attacking the country.
Neither US nor Israeli officials have publicly taken responsibility for the strike, which killed 150 students, according to Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva. The total death toll, which has reportedly exceeded 175 people, has not been independently confirmed.
Read the full article:
Military investigators believe US bombed Iranian girls’ school
Satellite images and eyewitness accounts appear to show evidence of precision strikes as analysts review whether AI and human errors played a roleDan Haygarth7 March 2026 10:51
Tehran skyline burns as Mehrabad Airport hit by strikes
Dan Haygarth7 March 2026 10:25
Hakeem Elahi: 'US effectively demanding that Iran surrender its dignity'
Namita Singh reports:
When asked about US president Donald Trump’s claim that Washington would accept no agreement with Iran short of unconditional surrender, Dr Abdul Majid Hakeem Elahi – a representative of the killed Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei – said the US was effectively demanding that Iran surrender its dignity.
Speaking to The Independent, Dr Elahi rejected the idea of capitulation and insisted Iran would defend its sovereignty and independence.
“US wants Iran to submit itself unconditionally. Without anything… Trump wants Iran to submit its mines, fuel, wells and everything else.
“But if we give our dignity to you, then there is nothing. So, we will defend our dignity and ourselves and independence so no one attacks us ever again.”
Dan Haygarth7 March 2026 09:45
Starmer 'right to stand up to Trump', says Sadiq Khan
The London mayor issued a statement on social media supporting Keir Starmer.
He wrote: “Keir Starmer is right to stand up to Donald Trump over Iran.
“While the brutal Iranian regime should rightly be condemned and international pressure applied, this war is not the right course of action.”
Daniel Haygarth7 March 2026 09:36
India's foreign minister confirms Iranian naval ship has docked in Kochi
India's foreign minister said on Saturday that an Iranian naval vessel has docked in India, after a US submarine sank an Iranian warship and another vessel sought assistance from Sri Lanka.
Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said the IRIS Lavan is docked in southern Kochi city, after India granted permission when the vessel reported "having problems" on 1 March. "I think it was the humane thing to do," Jaishankar said.
A US submarine sank the Iranian warship IRIS Dena off the coast of Sri Lanka on Wednesday.
Another vessel, the IRIS Bushehr, requested assistance from Sri Lanka and more than 200 sailors were brought ashore.
Both ships had previously taken part in naval exercises hosted by India, but Jaishankar said they got "caught on the wrong side of events" once the war began.
Dan Haygarth7 March 2026 09:17
Iran’s president apologises for attacks across the Gulf
Masoud Pezeshkian apologised for Iran's attacks on regional countries, insisting that Tehran would halt them and suggesting they were caused by miscommunication in the ranks.
Iran’s president’s statement aired after repeated attacks on morning on Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Pezeshkian made the statement in a pre-recorded address aired by Iranian state television.
Earlier, Iran's UN ambassador said the country would "take all necessary measures" to defend itself.
Footage showed explosions and smoke rising over western Tehran as Israel said it had begun a broad wave of strikes.
