"Not One Inch of Land Given": Pezeshkian Rejects Trump’s Surrender Demand

Speaking from Tehran, Pezeshkian explicitly rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent demand for "unconditional surrender," calling it a "dream that they should take to their grave." He asserted that while Iran does not seek to expand the conflict, it will not yield an inch of its sovereignty to foreign "bullies."

In a surprising move, Pezeshkian offered a personal apology to neighboring Gulf countries whose civilian areas were inadvertently damaged by Iranian missile and drone strikes targeting U.S. bases. He stated that the Interim Leadership Council has decided to halt strikes on neighboring territories, provided those nations do not allow their land or airspace to be used for U.S. or Israeli attacks against Iran. He also dismissed Trump’s "Make Iran Great Again" (MIGA) postwar reconstruction promises as a colonial approach, emphasizing that Iranians alone will determine their future through the ballot box.

The President’s speech comes as the country mourns the loss of 165 students in the Minab school massacre. While Iran holds the U.S. and Israel responsible for the airstrike, the Trump administration has countered with claims that Iran targeted its own school. Simultaneously, the naval front remains volatile following the sinking of the IRIS Dena off the coast of Sri Lanka on March 4, which resulted in the confirmed deaths of at least 87 Iranian sailors. Despite the diplomatic overtures, hardline members of the IRGC have criticized the President's apology as "weak," vowing to continue strikes against U.S. interests.