MIAMI – President Donald Trump on Saturday raised the possibility that the war against Iran would end only once that country no longer has a functioning military or any remaining leadership in power.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said he is not interested in negotiating with Iran at this time, later adding that the air campaign could make it a moot point if all of Iran’s potential leaders are killed and the Iranian military is destroyed.

“At some point, I don’t think there will be anyone left who will say, ‘We give up,'” Trump said.

Trump’s comments came on a day in which Israel and Iran exchanged numerous attacks as middle east war entered a second week. Iran’s president apologized to neighboring states to calm anger across the Gulf but sparked criticism from hardliners at home.

“I personally apologize to neighboring countries that were affected by Iran’s actions,” said Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, urging them not to join US-Israeli attacks on Iran.

Trump’s lawsuit over the Islamic Republic dismissed unconditional surrender ⁠as “a dream,” but said his temporary leadership council had agreed to suspend attacks on nearby states unless attacks on Iran originated on its territory.

Trump, however, described Iran’s apology as a surrender, saying the country would be “badly hit” on Saturday and warning that the United States could expand its attacks.

Amid potential divisions within Iran’s leadership over Pezeshkian’s comments, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a televised speech, said that any Iranian Revolutionary Guard who laid down their arms would emerge unscathed.

Netanyahu also said: “We support all countries attacked by Iran; many are talking to us.”

Ali Ardashir Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said on state television that there are no differences among Iranian officials over their handling of the war.

Iran says it attacked US bases

Pezeshkian’s comments caused a political stir in Iran, prompting his office to reiterate that the Iranian military would respond firmly to attacks from US bases in the region.

Hours later, the president repeated his statement on social media but omitted the apology from his speech that had angered hardliners, including the powerful Revolutionary Guard.

At some point, I don’t think there will be anyone left who will say, ‘We gave up.’

-President Donald Trump

Hamid Rasai, a hardline cleric and lawmaker, wrote on X: “Mr. Pezeshkian, your stance was unprofessional, weak and unacceptable.”

Judiciary chief Mohseni-Ejei, a hardline member of the three-man council that temporarily has supreme leader powers, said the territory of some countries in the region was being used for attacks on Iran and that retaliatory attacks would continue.

Hours after Pezeshkian’s announcement, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said its drones attacked a US air combat center at Al Dhafra air base near Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates. Reuters could not independently verify that report.

Late at night, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said they had attacked an Israeli refinery, according to state media. Air raid sirens sounded in the Haifa area, but there were no reports of destruction.

There were reports of rockets targeting the US embassy in Baghdad, security sources and witnesses said. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani ordered his security forces to hunt down those responsible, according to a statement.

The Associated Press reported that a missile landed on a helicopter landing pad at the large complex, with no casualties.

In Iran, local news agencies, citing a source in the Iranian Oil Ministry, said its fuel depots were hit by attacks in three areas, including Karaj, west of Tehran.

The Revolutionary Guards also attacked US forces at a base in Bahrain, Iranian state media said. Explosions were also heard in Doha, a Reuters witness said.

Tehran has responded to the US-Israel war against Iran by attacking Israel and Gulf Arab states that host military installations. Israel has launched new attacks in Lebanon after the Iran-aligned Hezbollah militia fired across the border.

The United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Iraq have reported drone or missile attacks over the past week.

Israel warns Lebanon to control Hezbollah

With the conflict spreading, Israel warned Lebanon it would pay a “very high price” if it did not rein in Hezbollah, while attacking the group’s strongholds with airstrikes and mounting a deadly air raid in the east.

By Saturday morning, more buildings in Beirut’s southern suburbs, controlled by Hezbollah, had been reduced to mounds of smoldering rubble, dust and tangled cables, Reuters video showed.

The total death toll from Israel’s attacks on Lebanon since Monday has risen to 294, the Health Ministry said.

US-Israeli strikes have killed at least 1,332 Iranian civilians and injured thousands, according to Iran’s ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeed Iravani. Huge explosions were heard in parts of Tehran, state media reported, while Israel said it had struck Iranian missile sites and command centers.

Iranian attacks have killed 10 people in Israel.

Larijani cited reports that American soldiers had been captured, but Central Command said no service members had been taken prisoner.

At least six service members have died. His remains arrived Saturday at an Air Force base in Delaware.

Iran rejects Trump’s call to give voice to election of new leader

Iran’s apparent strategy of maximum chaos has raised the costs of the conflict by raising energy prices and damaging global trade and logistics links.

Kuwait’s national oil company began cutting production on Saturday, adding to earlier oil and gas cuts from Iraq and Qatar.

The war has shaken global markets and oil prices have hit multi-year highs with the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed.

Trump has said the US Navy could escort ships in the Gulf.

Trump reiterated his demands have a say in the election of Iran’s new supreme leader, an idea rejected by Iravani.

Hardline clerics have called for the quick selection of a new supreme leader, Iranian media reported on Saturday, with meetings to be held as early as Sunday.

Ayatollah Hossein Mozafari, one of the 88 members of the Assembly of Experts, the clerical body tasked with choosing the next leader, was quoted as saying the assembly could meet in the next 24 hours to decide.

Contributing: Nandita Bose, Parisa Hafezi, Idrees Ali, Mike Stone, Pesha Magid, Aaron McNicholas and Reuters offices around the world