Tehran’s Assertion of Legal Right
Iran declared on Monday that it has the “legal right” to respond to the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, which is attributed to Israel amidst the ongoing Gaza conflict. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani emphasized that Iran “does not seek to aggravate tensions in the region,” which have escalated since the Israel-Hamas war began in early October and further intensified following the attack on Haniyeh.
Details of the Attack
According to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Israel used a “short-range projectile” to kill Haniyeh from outside his residence in Tehran, where he was attending the inauguration of President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Retaliation and Regional Tensions
In response to Haniyeh’s assassination, Iran, Hamas, and other Tehran-aligned armed groups have vowed retaliation. This incident occurred just hours after the assassination of Hezbollah’s military chief Fuad Shukr in an Israeli strike on Beirut. The exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israeli forces have been ongoing since early October, and the recent events have heightened fears of a full-scale regional war.
Iran’s Diplomatic Efforts
Iran has engaged in discussions with several Arab countries, including Jordan, Egypt, Oman, and Qatar, in the wake of Haniyeh’s killing. Tehran has consistently reiterated its “inherent right” to take action against Israel.
Israel’s Preparedness
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israel is at “a very high level” of preparedness for any scenario, both “defensive and offensive.”
