The Iranian president has claimed Tehran’s attack on Israel is a “sign of power”. 

Iran launched more than 300 drones and missiles at Israel last weekend, but little damage was caused. 

Speaking to a crowd in the city of Damghan, President Ebrahim Raisi said the attack showed the “steely determination of our nation”. 

Iran ‘downplaying’ reported Israeli attack and ‘cannot afford all-out war’

Iran appears to be “downplaying” the apparent Israeli attack on its own soil, a journalist who has written about the country told Sky News.

Tara Kangarlou, author of The Heartbeat of Iran, said she had spoken to a former government official in Iran on Friday and asked him whether he thought Tehran would respond.

He apparently replied that Iran cannot afford an all-out war because it “knows the United States will support Israel and back this conflict”.

Judging by Iran’s domestic news services, Ms Kangarlou said the regime was “sort of downplaying” Israel’s alleged actions.

She added: “Today is Friday and usually if the regime wants to announce something, the Friday prayers are the time to do so. 

“And we haven’t heard from the supreme leader. We haven’t really heard from the president. 

“So no one is coming out to condemn this attack and say ‘we are going to retaliate against Israel’. 

“And that tells us that Iran wants to sit this one out, at least based on what we’re seeing and what I’ve heard from former officials in Iran, because they can’t afford an all-out war.”