Funeral processions for Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh were held in Iran on Thursday after he was killed in a strike that Tehran blamed on Israel.
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Hamas spokesman Khalil al-Hayya addressed crowds of mourners in Tehran. Iranian media reported that the mourning procession would then head towards Azadi Square in the west. Hamas said earlier that Haniyeh’s body would be transported to the Qatari capital Doha for prayers and burial. Iran will hold three days of national mourning.
Haniyeh’s death was announced the day before by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, saying he and his bodyguard were killed in a strike on their residence in the Iranian capital at 2:00 a.m. on Wednesday.
It came just hours after Israel retaliated against Lebanon’s capital Beirut and killed top Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr, sparking fears of a widening regional war.
Israel declined to comment on Tehran’s strike.
Iran warns Israel of retaliation
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is due to lead prayers over Haniyeh’s body at Tehran University in the city centre. Khamenei vowed to avenge Haniyeh’s death. “You killed our dear guest in our home and now you have paved the way for your severe punishment,” he said, referring to Israel.
Khamenei has ordered Iran to launch a direct strike against Israel, The New York Times reported, citing three Iranian officials with knowledge of the order.
Iran launched a massive attack on Israel in April, firing hundreds of missiles and drones in its direction following the deaths of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officers in an Israeli strike on Damascus. Tehran then announced its response in advance and most of the aerial targets were intercepted.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the country “will defend its territorial integrity, dignity, honour and pride and will make the occupying terrorists regret their cowardly act.” Iran’s UN embassy blamed the US for the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, saying it could not have happened without US intelligence authorisation and support.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the strikes on Tehran and Beirut represented a “dangerous escalation.” He said all efforts should be “focused on a ceasefire” in Gaza and the release of hostages taken during a Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7.
Washington has no fear of escalation
The White House said on Wednesday it did not believe an escalation of the conflict was inevitable after the killing of Hamas leader and that the US was still working to reach a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
Speaking at a daily briefing, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said it was too early to say whether recent developments in the Middle East would affect prospects for a ceasefire agreement.
Former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis commented on the news on X:
Israel’s leadership is pushing its perpetual war agenda, killing everyone & everything that could yield/sign a Peace Deal. This is the worst possible disservice to Israelis seeking security and a decent life. Zionism has never been more detrimental to Israeli Jews than now.
