Araghchi said responsibility for any escalation resulting from Iran’s “exercise of its right to self-defence would lie squarely with the U.S. administration.”

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday that Iran had been open to de-escalation in the region but accused the United States of misinterpreting Tehran’s intentions and capabilities. 

“President Pezeshkian’s openness to de-escalation within our region — provided that our neighbours’ airspace, territory and waters are not used to attack the Iranian People — was almost immediately killed by President Trump’s misinterpretation of our capabilities, determination and intent,” said Araghchi in a statement on X.

This comes after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said, during a televised statement on Saturdaym, that Iran’s interim leadership council has approved that neighbouring countries will no longer be attacked unless an attack on Iran originates from them.

“[We will] not attack neighbouring countries or launch missiles at them, unless we were attacked by aggressor states [from those countries],” said Pezeshkian.

He noted that the country’s armed forces will respond to any attack launched from U.S. bases in the Middle East.

He also apologised to neighbouring countries for strikes carried out in recent days, in which he said Iran would not target them unless attacked from their territory.

Following this, U.S. President Donald Trump had claimed in a post on Truth Social that Iran had ‘apologised and surrendered’ to its neighbours, attributing the move to U.S. and Israeli military pressure, and warned that Iran would be ‘hit very hard.’

“Today Iran will be ​hit very hard! Under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain ​death, because of Iran’s ​bad behaviour, are areas and groups ‌of ⁠people that were not considered for targeting up until this moment in time, “said Trump.

In a post on X on Saturday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also warned that if Washington pursued escalation, Iran’s armed forces were prepared to respond.

“If Mr. Trump seeks escalation, it is precisely what our Powerful Armed Forces have long been prepared for, and what he will get,” said Araghchi.

He said that responsibility for any escalation resulting from Iran’s “exercise of its right to self-defence would lie squarely with the U.S. administration.”

Qatar’s Ministry of Defence confirmed late Saturday that the country’s armed forces intercepted a new missile attack targeting Qatar, after loud explosions were heard over Doha’s skies at 6:28 p.m. local time.

Qatar’s residents received National Emergency Alerts at 6:30 p.m., saying the security threats are elevated.