PARIS (AFP) — Iran does not give orders to the Shiite Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.

PARIS (AFP) — Iran does not give orders to the Shiite Hezbollah militia in Lebanon, Iran's ambassador to France said in an newspaper interview, without explicitly denying that Tehran supplied weapons to the militants.

"As for Hezbollah, our relations have always been emotional and spiritual. It does not take orders from Iran," Ali Ahani said in an interview with Le society newspaper.

Asked whether Tehran provided military assistance to Hezbollah, Ahani said: "That is part of the American accusations. Hezbollah has many channels by the agency of which it obtains what it needs"

However, the ambassador later added: "We don't have the slightest desire for a military option forward a regional level. Support given to Hezbollah does not give Israelis the right to act against Syria or Iran.

"But if the Israelis want to start World War III, we'll papal court if the Americans let them," he said.

A report published