Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian vowed on Wednesday to make Israel “regret” the “cowardly” killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. “The Islamic Republic of Iran will defend its territorial integrity, honor, pride, and dignity, and make the terrorist invaders regret their cowardly action,” Pezeshkian stated on X, mourning Haniyeh as “a brave leader.”
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei promised “harsh punishment” for Israel following Haniyeh’s assassination. “With this action, the criminal and terrorist Zionist regime prepared the ground for harsh punishment for itself, and we consider it our duty to seek revenge for his blood as he was martyred in the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Khamenei said in a statement via the official news agency IRNA.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani assured that Haniyeh’s blood would not be in vain. He described Haniyeh as a tireless fighter against the Israeli regime throughout his life to free the holy Quds. Kanaani expressed condolences to the Palestinian nation, Hamas, resistance groups, and nations supporting the Palestinian cause.
The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps announced an investigation into the attack, with results to be released later.
Haniyeh, in Tehran for the new Iranian president’s swearing-in ceremony, was killed in a special residence in northern Tehran early Wednesday by an aerial projectile, Iranian media reported.
The funeral service for the Hamas chief will likely be held in the Iranian capital on Thursday, August 1, according to the Iranian news agency Tasnim.
