Iran confirms will not directly engage “Israel”

Iran will not deploy forces to Lebanon or Gaza to confront “Israel”, its foreign ministry said on Monday – per Agence France-Presse (AFP).

"There is no need to send extra or volunteer forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran," foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said, adding that Lebanon and fighters in Palestine "have the capability and strength to defend themselves against the aggression".

“Israel” has in recent days been mounting heavy air strikes in Lebanon against the "axis of resistance", a network of Iran-aligned proxies in the region, including in Syria, Yemen and Iraq.

"We have not received any request in this regard from any side, on the contrary, we are informed and are sure that they do not need the help of our forces," Kanani told reporters in Tehran.

Kanani nonetheless vowed that “Israel” will “not remain without reprimand and punishment for the crimes it has committed against the Iranian people, military personnel and the resistance forces".