Iran does not seek escalation of regional tensions but believes it must punish Israel to prevent further instability, the Islamic Republic's foreign ministry spokesman said after the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last week, Reuters quoted him as saying.
"Iran seeks to establish stability in the region, but this will only happen by punishing the aggressor and creating a deterrent against the adventurism of the Zionist regime (Israel)," said Nasser Kanaani, adding that action by Tehran was inevitable.
Kanaani called on the United States to stop supporting Israel, saying the international community had failed in its duty to ensure stability in the region and should support "punish the aggressor."
On Monday, the top commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hossein Salami, reiterated the elite group's threat that Israel "will be punished at the right time."
Tehran and Iran-allied groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah blamed Israel for the July 31 assassination of Haniya. Israeli officials have not claimed responsibility for the attack.