Ankara: US President Donald Trump claimed Saturday that Iran had apologized to neighboring countries and vowed to stop firing at them following ongoing military pressure from the US and Israel. In a post on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump said Tehran had backed down as a result of sustained attacks carried out by Washington and its regional ally.

According to Anadolu Agency, Trump asserted that Iranian ambitions to dominate the region had been halted, stating, "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." He also claimed that regional leaders had expressed gratitude to him for the military pressure exerted on Iran.

In his message, Trump criticized Iran, labeling them no longer the "Bully of the Middle East," but rather, "THE LOSER OF THE MIDDLE EAST." He warned that this status would persist for many decades unless Iran surrendered or faced complete collapse. Trump further cautioned about additional military action, indicating that Iran could face significant strikes. He mentioned that areas and groups not previously targeted were now under serious consideration due to what he described as Iran's "bad behavior."

The statements from Trump come amid a backdrop of escalating tensions and reported strikes involving the US and Israel targeting sites within Iran, contributing to the already volatile atmosphere in the region.