Iran Vows to Punish Israel for Hamas Leader's Death

 

 - Iran is not seeking to escalate regional tensions but believes it must punish Israel to prevent further instability, according to a statement by the foreign ministry spokesperson on Monday. This follows the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last week.

“Iran seeks to establish stability in the region, but this will only come with punishing the aggressor and creating deterrence against the adventurism of the Zionist regime (Israel),” stated Nasser Kanaani, indicating that action from Tehran was inevitable.

Kanaani urged the United States to cease its support for Israel, criticizing the international community for failing to maintain regional stability and advocating for the “punishment of the aggressor.”

Iran’s foreign ministry convened ambassadors and heads of missions in Tehran for a meeting with acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani on Monday to reiterate Iran’s intention to respond to Israel.

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An emergency session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation is scheduled for Wednesday at Iran’s request to discuss Haniyeh's killing and Iran’s planned response, Kanaani added.

Tehran and groups aligned with it, such as Hamas and Hezbollah, have accused Israel of killing Haniyeh on July 31 in the Iranian capital. His death is part of a series of killings of senior Hamas figures as the conflict in Gaza between Hamas and Israel approaches its 11th month.

Israeli officials have not claimed responsibility.

On Monday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps’ top Commander Hossein Salami reiterated that Israel “will receive punishment in due time.”