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Iran disputes report on Gaza suicide volunteers
TEHRAN, Iran - Iranian officials strongly disputed news reports Saturday that Iran's top leader Ayatollah Ali Khameini has banned volunteers from leaving the country to carry out suicide bombings against Israel and stressed the supreme leader meant only practical obstacles remain for such attackers to reach Gaza.
The officials said The Associated Press misinterpreted Khamenei's comments when he said Thursday "our hands are tied in this arena."
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AP also quoted Khamenei saying Iran would assist the militant group Hamas, which is fighting Israel, in other ways.
The Iranian officials said Khamenei's words should not have been interpreted as a ban on such volunteers but meant any Iranians would have great practical difficulty in reaching Gaza because of Israel's offensive. The report was used by some Arab television stations.
Last week, Iranian student groups asked the government to authorize volunteers to carry out suicide bombings in Israel in support of Hamas. The students began signing up after Khamenei issued a religious decree Dec. 28, saying anyone killed while defending Palestinians in Gaza against Israeli attacks would be considered a martyr.
Volunteer suicide groups have made similar requests in the past and the government never responded to their calls.
The student groups claim more than 70,000 people throughout Iran have registered as volunteer suicide bombers since Israel launched its assault against Hamas-ruled Gaza on Dec. 27.
Israel's bombardment of Gaza, which has killed more than 700 Palestinians, has outraged many in Iran and the Arab world.
Israel says it launched the offensive to stop Hamas launching rockets into southern Israel. Thirteen Israelis have died since the offensive began.
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