Hardliners pilloryIranian president after apology

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s apology to neighboring countries for the recent attacks sparked a reaction from conservatives in the country.

Critics in Iran immediately accused Pezeshkian of showing weakness, damaging national pride and harming the country.

Conservative MP Jalal Rashidi Koochi wrote about X: “With all due respect, Mr. President, we apologize when a mistake was made… But we did not make a mistake.”

The MP accused the president of lack of authority in his message, which he said was weak in terms of text, expression and body language.

Pezeshkian had apologized in a video message published by state media for Iran’s attacks on neighboring countries since US-Israeli attacks on Iran began a week ago.

Iran’s subsequent missile and drone attacks were “the result of the chaotic situation in which the armed forces were left leaderless and forced to act independently, following the deaths of several senior commanders,” he said.

His words imply that any attack on Iran should not originate from US military bases in the region.

Mohammad Mannan Raeesi, a considered conservative MP, wrote of X: “Your apology to neighboring countries has caused widespread regret… The attacks of our armed forces do not warrant such a humiliating apology on your part.”

Mannan Raeesi called on Pezeshkian to “immediately apologize to the public for this insulting attitude.”

The Raja News website, considered Islamist, wrote: “The president’s latest television speech shows that the government’s circle of advisors is still pursuing pleading diplomacy.”

The portal wrote that the speech, which was supposed to be a symbol of resistance, unfortunately turned into a broadcast of signals of weakness and made the following call: “Take the microphone away from him.”