Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has ordered direct retaliation against Israel following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, a senior Hamas leader, in Tehran.
This directive was issued during an emergency session of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council on Wednesday morning, shortly after Iran reported Haniyeh’s death.
Three unnamed Iranian officials confirmed the news to The New York Times, revealing that the Revolutionary Guard has attributed Haniyeh’s assassination to Israel.
Although no group has officially claimed responsibility for the killing, Israel had previously targeted Haniyeh and other Hamas leaders in response to a deadly attack by the group on October 7, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and around 250 hostages.
Israel has neither confirmed nor denied its involvement in Haniyeh’s death, which occurred during his visit to Tehran for the inauguration of Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian.
The timing, location, and target of the assassination heighten tensions, potentially pushing Iran and Israel toward direct confrontation if Iran acts on its vow for revenge.
In a statement, Khamenei declared that revenge is “our duty” and warned that Israel has “prepared a harsh punishment for itself” by killing “a dear guest in our home.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded by stating that Israel “will exact a very heavy price from any aggression against us on any front,” without addressing the specific incident.
He also noted that “there are challenging days ahead.”
Earlier in 2024, the two nations came close to war following Israeli strikes on Iran’s embassy in Damascus in April, which led to reciprocal attacks before international efforts managed to de-escalate the situation.
Throughout the ongoing Gaza conflict, Iran has tried to maintain a delicate balance—escalating pressure on Israel through regional allies and proxy forces while avoiding a full-scale war.
Iran’s alliances with Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and various militias in Iraq are part of what is termed the “axis of resistance.”
Leaders from these groups were present in Tehran for Pezeshkian’s inauguration, and Haniyeh was killed around 2 am local time after attending the ceremony and meeting with Khamenei.
