Iran bans students from suicide bombings in Israel

Tehran: Iran's top leader has banned hardline Iranian volunteers from leaving the country to carry out suicide bombings against Israel.

Iran's state television is quoting Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as saying that Iran can't allow volunteers to cross its border and take military action against Israel. But he says Iran won't spare any efforts to assist Hamas in other ways.

Hardline Iranian student groups have asked the government to authorise volunteers to carry out suicide bombings in Israel in response to the Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip.

Iran is Hamas' main backer, though the country denies sending weapons to the Islamist movement. Iran considers Israel its arch-enemy.