Iran said it wanted to reestablish its deterrence against Israel as the US and world powers brace for a possible attack on the Jewish state.
“Reinforcing stability and security in the region will be achieved by punishing the aggressor and creating deterrence against Israel and its adventurism,” a spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry said to reporters on Monday in Tehran.
The comments may be a signal that Iran is trying to avoid a full-on war with Israel even as it retaliates for what it claims was an Israeli assassination of Hamas’ political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran last week.
Israel’s neither confirmed nor denied it was responsible.
The Islamic Republic has the right, within the framework of international law, to punish Israel but does not want to escalate tensions in the Middle East, the spokesperson, Nasser Kanaani, said.
