Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian surprised many observers when he apologised to Iran's neighbours for recent strikes against them, during an address delivered on Saturday morning as part of the country's interim leadership.
Apologies between states are rare, particularly during active conflict, and the wording stood out. Leaders usually express "regret" or distance themselves from responsibility.
Pezeshkian instead directly acknowledged that neighbouring countries had been targeted and said Iranian forces had now been asked to stop striking them unless attacks on Iran originate from their territory.
"I deem it necessary to apologise to neighbouring countries that were attacked," he said. "We do not intend to invade neighbouring countries."
That alone raises the first question: was this a genuine apology, and why now?
