Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused Israel of warmongering while positioning the Islamic republic as restrained, AFP reports.

He suggested Iran had held back retaliation after the killing of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July, fearing it could derail US efforts for a Gaza ceasefire.

“We tried to not respond. They kept telling us we were within reach of peace, perhaps in a week or so,” he said.

“But we never reached that elusive peace. Every day Israel is committing more atrocities.” This measured approach echoes Iran’s response earlier this year during heightened tensions with Israel. Iran fired hundreds of missiles and drones after the Damascus strike, but most were intercepted.

Analysts say Iran is flexing its muscles amid the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, without provoking a US response.