Iran’s Expediency Council Chairman Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani on Friday warned Israel against any new attack on Lebanon or it would face unprecedented response. "The Lebanon issue is not over. Due to their shortcomings, the Israelis are still threatening sometimes, especially the military and the ruling party," Rafsanjani said, referring to the Kadima party headed by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Rafsanjani, who is also Iran’s former president, told a crowd of worshippers at Friday prayers that "they (the Israelis) must be very careful not to put fuel on the flames, but it’s for sure that any new movement (from Israel) will receive an answer that they have not received before." During the 34-day-long Israel-Hezbollah conflict which erupted on July 12, Iran’s top officials had shown strong indignation at Israel and the U.S. role in supporting the Jewish state. The Iranian government denied allegations by Western countries that it had funded and armed the militants in secret, saying Iran just provided moral support for Hezbollah.