Iran reaffirms right to retaliate for assassination of Hamas leader

Iran's caretaker Foreign Minister Ali Baqeri warned that inaction in response to Israel’s recent aggression would effectively reward the Zionist regime. He reaffirmed Iran’s right to seek revenge for the assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

During a phone conversation with Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani on August 5, Baqeri urged serious measures to halt Israel’s atrocities in Gaza, curb its aggression in Lebanon and Yemen, and hold it accountable for Haniyeh's assassination, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Baqeri emphasized that a muted response to Israel’s intensified actions would jeopardize regional stability, stating, "Silence on the regime’s recent measures would be tantamount to rewarding it". He asserted that Iran reserves the right to retaliate based on international law.

Haniyeh, who was in Tehran for the Iranian president’s swearing-in ceremony, was killed on July 31 by an aerial projectile at his residence. Following the assassination, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei vowed a "harsh response," declaring it Iran’s duty to avenge Haniyeh’s blood.