Israel and Iran play down apparent Israeli air strike near nuclear site

Iranians chant slogans during an anti-Israeli gathering in Tehran (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Israel and Iran have played down an apparent Israeli air strike near a major air base and nuclear site in central Iran, signalling the two bitter enemies are ready to prevent their latest eruption of violence from escalating into a full-blown region-wide war.

But the indecisive outcome of weeks of tensions — which included an alleged Israeli strike that killed two Iranian generals, an unprecedented Iranian missile barrage on Israel and the apparent Israeli strike early on Friday in the heart of Iran — did little to resolve deeper grievances between the foes and left the door open to further fighting.