Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has threatened severe punishment for Israel following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Haniyeh was killed by a rocket in Tehran, with Hamas blaming Israel for the attack, though Israel denied involvement.
Photo: Mehr News Agency by Мохаммадреза Аббаси, CC BY 4.0
As Khamenei vowed to avenge Haniyeh’s death, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Vice President Amir Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi also promised repercussions for the perpetrators. The assassination took place following Haniyeh’s attendance at Pezeshkian’s inauguration, sparking condemnation from Palestinian and international leaders.
“We consider it our duty to create ground for severe punishment for ourselves and avenge the blood of the one who was martyred on the territory of the Islamic Republic,” Khamenei declared.
While Hamas mourns the loss of Haniyeh, Israeli Minister Amihai Eliyahu’s controversial remarks have stirred further tensions. The situation remains fluid as diplomatic reactions pour in from around the globe.