The Iranian Supreme National Security Council’s “Noor News” website has described the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran early Wednesday morning as a “dangerous gamble to undermine Tehran’s deterrence.” The website added that “crossing red lines has always been costly.”
In response, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani stated on Wednesday that “Haniyeh’s blood will not be shed in vain.”
Iranian state media quoted Kanaani as saying that Haniyeh’s assassination in Tehran “will strengthen and deepen the close connection between Tehran, Palestine, and the resistance.” He added that “the Palestinian resistance has every right to punish those responsible for the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh.”
Simultaneously, former Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander Rezaei was quoted by Iranian state media as saying, “Israel will pay a heavy price” for Haniyeh’s assassination.
Hamas announced on Wednesday the death of its political bureau chief, Ismail Haniyeh, along with one of his bodyguards, in an Israeli airstrike on his residence in Tehran, following his participation in the inauguration ceremony of Iran’s new president. In contrast, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered ministers to refrain from commenting on Haniyeh’s assassination.
A statement from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, published on its website, confirmed that “the residence of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’ political bureau, was bombed in Tehran,” resulting in his death and that of his bodyguard.
The Revolutionary Guard stated that an investigation into the incident is underway.
Following the announcement of Haniyeh’s death, Hamas political bureau member Mousa Abu Marzook condemned the assassination as a “cowardly act that will not go unpunished.”
Haniyeh had arrived in Tehran on Tuesday to attend the inauguration of the new Iranian President, Masoud Bezhkian, in the Shura Council.
During his visit, Haniyeh met with Bezhkian and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
