Pezeshkian, the president of Iran, claims that certain nations “have begun mediation efforts.”

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian discussed “mediation efforts” for the resolution of the Middle East conflict on Friday, as it continues to deepen. Pezeshkian said that several nations had started “mediation efforts” between the United States, Israel, and Iran in a post on social media site X.The Iranian president clarified Tehran’s stance on the issue by stating that while they were “committed to lasting peace” in West Asia, the focus of the negotiations should be on those he claimed were to blame for “provocation.”

“Some countries have initiated efforts for mediation. Our response to them is clear: We are committed to lasting peace in the region, but we have not the slightest hesitation in defending the dignity and authority of our country,” Pezeshkian said.

“The audience for mediation should be those who, by underestimating the Iranian people, ignited the fire of provocation,” he added.

Iran launched retaliation attacks against Israel and Gulf nations after Israeli airplanes bombarded Iran’s capital, Tehran, on Friday, In retaliation, Iran launched missile and drone attacks at Israel, as well as other Middle East countries, including Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. It targeted countries which host US military bases and installations.

Qatar on Friday said it had intercepted a drone attack targeting Al Udeid Air Base, which hosts the forward headquarters of the US Central Command. Saudi Arabia, too, a intercepted and destroyed three ballistic missiles heading toward Sultan Air Base south of Riyadh, a defense ministry spokesperson said.

Iran’s senior leadership, nuclear program, and military installations have all been the targets of national strikes by the United States and Israel since the confrontation started last week. The Israeli military earlier today announced that it had begun “a broad-scale wave of strikes” on Tehran, with eyewitnesses describing the attacks as particularly intense, and saying that they were shaking homes in the area, AP reported. This comes even as US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the US air campaign against Iran would also “surge dramatically.”