Iran pledges retaliation for assassination of Hamas leader

Iran’s acting foreign minister has vowed that the country will respond to the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh “at the right time” and in an “appropriate” manner, following a day of heightened diplomatic activity in the Middle East.

The statement was made during an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Saudi Arabia, where member states gathered to discuss the implications of Haniyeh’s killing. The United States expressed hope that OIC members would urge Iran to avoid actions that could escalate the conflict.

Tensions in the region have escalated sharply since Haniyeh was killed in Tehran last week, an act for which Iran and its allies have blamed Israel. Israel has yet to comment on the assassination.

During the OIC meeting, Iran’s acting Foreign Minister Baqeri Ali Bagheri Kani called on member states to support Iran’s anticipated response, framing it as a defense of regional stability and security. In a subsequent statement, the OIC held Israel “fully responsible” for the “heinous attack,” describing it as a “serious infringement” of Iran’s sovereignty. However, the bloc stopped short of endorsing any direct military retaliation by Iran.

In recent months, Iran has launched missile and drone attacks in response to perceived provocations, raising concerns that a similar response could follow Haniyeh’s assassination. OIC Chair Mamadou Tangara warned that the killing could lead to a wider regional conflict, emphasizing that it would only amplify the Palestinian cause.

Saudi Arabia, addressing the assassination for the first time, condemned the act as a “blatant violation” of Iran’s sovereignty. Meanwhile, US officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, have been engaged in intense diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation, urging restraint from all parties involved. French President Emmanuel Macron echoed these sentiments in a call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, stressing that any Iranian escalation would harm regional stability. Pezeshkian, in turn, insisted that the West should cease arms sales to Israel if it wants to prevent further conflict.

Source: BBC