Iran’s military said Saturday that only radar systems were damaged in pre-dawn Israeli strikes on Tehran and other provinces and said it was prioritizing a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon over any retaliation against Israel.

While saying it had the right to retaliate, the statement suggested Tehran may be trying to find a way to avoid further escalation after Israel’s attack early Saturday.

“Thanks to the timely performance of the country’s air defenses, the attacks caused limited damage and a few radar systems were damaged,” the armed forces general staff said in a statement read out on state television.

“A large number of missiles were intercepted, and enemy aircraft were prevented from entering the country’s airspace,” the statement said.

Israeli aircraft were reduced to firing a “small number of long-range missiles with very light warheads from a distance,” inside the US-patrolled airspace of neighboring Iraq, it added.

The general staff held back from any threat of immediate retaliation.

“While reserving its legal and legitimate right to respond at the appropriate moment, Iran is prioritizing the establishment of a lasting ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon,” it said.

Iran’s supreme leader said Sunday that Israel’s attack on Iran “should not be exaggerated nor downplayed", though he stopped short of calling for retaliation.

“The miscalculations of the Israeli regime must be disrupted. It is essential to make them understand the strength, will, and initiative of the Iranian nation and its youth", Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said.

“It is up to the authorities to determine how to convey the power and will of the Iranian people to the Israeli regime and to take actions that serve the interests of this nation and country," he added.