International Trump says Iran ‘will be hit very hard’ despite apology for striking neighbors by Sophie Brams - 03/07/26 8:03 AM ET by Sophie Brams - 03/07/26 8:03 AM ET Share ✕ LinkedIn LinkedIn Email Email NOW PLAYING President Trump vowed early Saturday to press on with U.S. military operations against Iran, declaring the country would be “hit very hard,” even after its president apologized for attacks against regional neighbors. “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,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social . The warning came after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian defiantly rejected Trump’s demand for “ unconditional ” surrender in a video message filmed as the conflict entered a second week. Pezeshkian said that is a “dream that they should take to their grave,” according to The Associated Press . He also said that Iran’s temporary leadership council, which has been in charge since Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in joint U.S.-Israeli strikes last Saturday, had agreed to halt strikes against other countries in the region unless the attacks originated from their territory. “I should apologize to the neighboring countries that were attacked by Iran, on my own behalf,” Pezeshkian reportedly said. “From now on, they should not attack neighboring countries or fire missiles at them, unless we are attacked by those countries. I think we should solve this through diplomacy.” His comments appear to be aimed at easing regional tensions as the conflict spills outside of Iran’s borders — but also come as explosions were reported at Dubai International Airport and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Iranian state TV reported Saturday morning that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it struck Al Dhafra Air Base, a U.S. command post in the UAE; however, those reports have not been independently verified. Trump suggested Pezeshkian’s apology was made only “because of the relentless U.S. and Israeli attack,” which has sought to topple the regime and stifle Tehran’s nuclear program and ballistic missile capabilities. “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!” the president wrote. At least 1,172 civilians and 176 military personnel have been killed in Iran since the operation began, according to preliminary estimates from the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency . The AP has reported at least 11 deaths in Israel as a result of retaliatory Iranian strikes. Six U.S. service members were also killed in an Iranian airstrike at a tactical operations center in Kuwait. A dignified transfer for the U.S. soldiers will take place at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Saturday. Trump is expected to attend. Add as preferred source on Google Tags Ali Khamenei Donald Trump Iran conflict Israel Masoud Pezeshkian Trump administration U.S.-Iran strikes Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Share ✕ LinkedIn LinkedIn Email Email More International News See All International Trump administration takes heat as Americans slowly return from Middle East by Laura Kelly and Ashleigh Fields 4 hours ago International  /  4 hours ago