Kazakhstan has welcomed a statement by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian about ending Iranian missile and drone attacks on neighboring countries, though some Gulf Arab states reported continuing attacks on Saturday.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan noted the statement by Pezeshkian, “who conveyed the decision of the Interim Governing Council to renounce attacks on neighboring countries,” said Aibek Smadiyarov, spokesman for Kazakhstan’s presidency.
Tokayev “considers this an important step aimed at easing tensions in the Middle East,” Smadiyarov said.
In a video message, Pezeshkian apologized “on my own behalf” for Iranian attacks on neighboring countries, including Azerbaijan, where two drones struck near an airport and a school. The Iranian president said Iran should not attack those countries unless they attack Iran.
Iran has been governed by an interim council since Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei was killed in an air strike at the start of the war a week ago. U.S. and Israeli forces have kept up intense bombardments since then and President Donald Trump is demanding that the Iranian government unconditionally surrender. Pezeshkian rejected Trump’s demand in his message on Saturday.
