Trump Calls Iran ‘Loser of the Middle East’ After Tehran Apologises to Gulf Nations

US President Donald Trump reacted sharply after Masoud Pezeshkian, the president of Iran, apologised to neighbouring Gulf countries amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

Posting on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump claimed Iran had lost its regional dominance and was no longer the “bully of the Middle East.” The 79-year-old Republican said Tehran’s apology came only after sustained military pressure from the United States and Israel during the conflict.

“Iran, which is being beat to hell, has apologised and surrendered to its Middle East neighbours and promised that it will not shoot at them anymore,” Trump wrote. He added that the apology was made only because of the relentless attacks carried out by the US and Israel.

Trump further claimed that the situation marked the first time in history that Iran had “lost to surrounding Middle Eastern countries.” He also warned that Tehran could face harsher consequences if the conflict escalates further.

In another post, Trump said Iran was no longer the “bully of the Middle East” but had become the “loser of the Middle East,” adding that the country could remain weakened for decades unless it surrendered or faced potential collapse.

The remarks came shortly after Pezeshkian apologised to Gulf nations that had been targeted during the recent hostilities. Speaking on Saturday, the Iranian president said Tehran had no intention of invading neighbouring countries.

“I apologise to the neighbouring countries,” Pezeshkian said, adding that Iran’s leadership council had decided to halt missile and drone strikes on Gulf states unless attacks against Iran originated from those territories.

Meanwhile, both Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, have repeatedly claimed that Iran’s military capabilities have been significantly weakened during the conflict.

According to the United States Central Command, Iranian ballistic missile launches have fallen by about 90 percent in recent days, while drone attacks have dropped by roughly 83 percent.

Israel has also claimed that it has destroyed nearly 80 percent of Iran’s air defence systems and achieved what it described as “near-complete air superiority” over Iranian territory.

The conflict intensified earlier this week after the United States struck the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Dena near Sri Lanka on March 4. The ship was reportedly returning from a military exercise in India when it was attacked.

At least 87 people were killed and around 60 others remain missing following the strike. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the vessel was hit by a torpedo fired from a submarine, marking the first such torpedo attack in a major conflict since World War II.

Iran condemned the attack and warned that the United States would “bitterly regret” the strike. Hours later, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it had targeted an American tanker in the northern Persian Gulf, further raising tensions in the region.

As military operations continue, the confrontation between the US, Israel and Iran has pushed the region deeper into a volatile conflict with global implications.