Iranians attend a gathering in Tehran on Oct 7, 2023, to express their solidarity with Palestine after Hamas militants launched a deadly air, land and sea assault into Israel from the Gaza Strip. (PHOTO / AFP)

TEHRAN - Iran's permanent mission to the United Nations said on Monday the country is not involved in the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement's (Hamas) military operation against Israel, according to the official news agency IRNA.

The Iranian mission said in a statement, however, the country "unflinchingly stands in solidarity with the Palestinian nation."

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Hamas' recent decisions and measures have "strong roots in the cardinal principle of people's right to self-determination, which is indicative of a completely legitimate response to seven decades of Israel's cruel occupation," said the statement.

"The Palestinians have the freedom to make choices they believe are in their interest and determine their course of action," the mission added.

While recognizing the Palestinians' inherent right to self-defense based on international law, Iran maintains that "the Palestinian issue will be resolved only through ending the occupation"

It added that "the status quo in occupied Palestine is the consequence of the long-term negligence of the Palestinian people's legitimate right to determine their fate, Israel's constant aggressions against Palestine and their land, continuation of the desecration of Muslims' sacred places, including the Al-Aqsa Mosque."

While recognizing the Palestinians' inherent right to self-defense based on international law, Iran maintains that "the Palestinian issue will be resolved only through ending the occupation."

Hamas on Saturday launched a surprise attack on Israeli towns adjacent to the Gaza Strip, prompting Israel to launch retaliatory strikes on Gaza.

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At least 687 Palestinians have been killed and over 3,700 others wounded in Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, according to the latest update issued by the Palestinian Health Ministry on Monday, while more than 900 have been killed in Israel in the Hamas attack, according to Israel's state-owned Kan TV. 

Separately, Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani on Monday warned that any "foolish" move against the country will receive a "crushing response" from Tehran.

He made the remarks at a weekly press conference in the Iranian capital Tehran, in response to US Senator Lindsey Graham's anti-Iran accusations and remarks on the social platform X.

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Kanaani (Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman) said those who threaten Iran should be aware of the legal and international consequences and responsibilities of their threats, stressing that Iran has always acted "strongly, decisively" in defense of its national security and people's rights

In a number of posts on X, Graham accused Iran of "being behind the operation against Israel (by Hamas), and aiding the Palestinian resistance groups in it," and threatened Iran with "attacks on its oil refineries and infrastructure."

Kanaani said those who threaten Iran should be aware of the legal and international consequences and responsibilities of their threats, stressing that Iran has always acted "strongly, decisively" in defense of its national security and people's rights.

He noted that as announced by the Palestinian nation and resistance groups, the recent military operation was in response to "frequent moves by Israel in desecration of the Al-Aqsa Mosque" and daily operations by Israel against the Palestinian people.

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Kanaani added that the arms and financial support from the United States for Israel are proof of "Washington's direct role in supporting Israel and its crimes against the Palestinian people."

The spokesman reaffirmed Iran's position that it is the Palestinian nation's "legitimate and internationally-recognized" right to resist against "oppressor, aggressor and occupier."

The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday launched a surprise attack on Israeli towns adjacent to the Gaza Strip, prompting Israel to launch retaliatory strikes on Gaza. The ongoing conflict has left heavy casualties on both sides.