Iranian media have played down the severity of the Israeli operation, signalling what analysts say is the Islamic republic’s reluctance to escalate further.

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday said that Israel’s attack which killed four soldiers “should neither be exaggerated nor minimised”.

He described it as a “miscalculation” on Israel’s part.

President Masoud Pezeshkian said: “We do not seek war but we will defend the rights of our nation and country.”

Iran “will give an appropriate response to the aggression of the Zionist regime”, Pezeshkian added.

Also on Sunday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated Iran’s “right to respond”, also saying that Tehran had “received indications” hours before Israel’s attack.

US news website Axios on Saturday said Israel has “sent message to Iran” ahead of its attack and warned it “against a response”.