“Those who expect the unconditional surrender of the Iranian people must take that wish to their graves,” Pezeshkian said in a speech broadcast on state TV.

The remarks came after Israel and the United States launched attacks on Iran on February 28, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and triggering a wider regional conflict.

Iran has retaliated with missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and US assets in neighbouring countries, mainly in the Gulf.

Pezeshkian is part of an interim leadership council that has been managing Iran since Khamenei’s death.

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During his address, the president apologised to neighbouring countries for Iran’s strikes, stressing that they will not be targeted unless they attack Iran first. 

“I apologise on my own behalf and on behalf of Iran to neighbouring countries that were affected,” he said.

“The interim leadership council agreed yesterday that no further attacks will be made on neighbouring nations, and no missiles will be fired unless an attack originates from those countries.”