Live Updates: Iran backs off regional strikes unless provoked, mocks Trump’s surrender demand

President Donald Trump mocked Iran as the “loser of the Middle East” after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologized to neighboring nations and vowed to stop attacking them unless it was hit first.

In a Truth Social post Saturday, Trump said Iran would maintain that “loser” status for decades “until they surrender or, more likely, completely collapse.”

In response to Operation Epic Fury, Iran had launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks against at least 12 other countries in the region, and some Arab states signaled a bolstered military posture and were weighing possible military action against Iran.

“Iran, which is being beat to HELL, has apologized and surrendered to its Middle East neighbors, and promised that it will not shoot at them anymore,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Saturday. “This promise was only made because of the relentless U.S. and Israeli attack. They were looking to take over and rule the Middle East.”

“It is the first time that Iran has ever lost, in thousands of years, to surrounding Middle Eastern Countries. They have said, ‘Thank you President Trump’,” he continued. “I have said, ‘You’re welcome!’ Iran is no longer the ‘Bully of the Middle East,’ they are, instead, ‘THE LOSER OF THE MIDDLE EAST,’ and will be for many decades until they surrender or, more likely, completely collapse!”

“Today Iran will be hit very hard!” Trump vowed. “Under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death, because of Iran’s bad behavior, are areas and groups of people that were not considered for targeting up until this moment in time. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”