Iran sends first significant message of de-escalation, but with a major caveat | CNN

Moments after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in an apparently prerecorded statement that Tehran would halt attacks on its Gulf neighbors under certain conditions, several reported new strikes. The launches were some of the largest since the war began and coincided with the one-week anniversary of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s killing in strikes by the United States and Israel. Pezeshkian said the decision to stop attacks on the Gulf unless strikes on Iran originated from those countries’ territories was taken Friday. On Saturday morning, Iran fired 16 ballistic missiles and 121 drones on the United Arab Emirates alone. Still, in what are the highest-level de-escalatory comments so far from Iran, Pezeshkian apologized to his neighbors for days of strikes that have sparked panic in areas once thought safe. Since taking office, the reformist leader has presented himself with an almost constant air of regret, issuing multiple public apologies during his tenure – for the sharp deterioration of the national economy, the killing of thousands of protesters during demonstrations and the persistent inefficiencies of his own government. Everything we know on the eighth day of