The Ayatollah’s punitive orders to Israel were “clear and unambiguous,” said the National Guard’s deputy (Getty/archive photo).
Iran will obey an order from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and “severely punish” Israel for the assassination of a Hamas leader in Tehran, a deputy commander of the Revolutionary Guard was quoted as saying by local news agencies on Friday.
“The Supreme Leader’s orders regarding the harsh punishment of Israel and the avenging of the blood of the martyr Ismail Haniyeh are clear and precise… and they will be implemented in the best possible way,” Ali Fadavi said, according to Iranian media.
Blame for Haniyeh’s July 31 killing has been placed on Israel, which has refused to accept responsibility or deny the killing, fuelling concerns that Israel’s war in Gaza could escalate into a wider war in the Middle East.
Asked by reporters to respond to Fadavi’s comments, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said the US was prepared to defend Israel with ample resources in the region. He added: “When we hear rhetoric like that, we have to take it seriously, and we do.”
Iran’s mission to the United Nations said later Friday that Tehran’s response to Israel’s killing of Haniya was “an issue that has nothing to do with it” and had nothing to do with efforts to reach a ceasefire in the 10-month-long war that has devastated the area and killed tens of thousands of people.
“We hope, however, that our response will be timed and delivered in a manner that will not harm a possible ceasefire,” the mission said when asked whether Iran might delay its retaliation until after ceasefire talks in the Gaza Strip next week.
The United States, Egypt and Qatar on Thursday called on Israel and Hamas to meet in Doha or Cairo on August 15 for talks to finalise a ceasefire in Gaza and a hostage release. Israel has said it will take part in the negotiations, while a Hamas official said: Reuters The group “studies” the new conversation offer.
“Our priority is the creation of a permanent ceasefire in Gaza; any agreement accepted by Hamas will also be recognized by us,” said the Iranian UN mission in New York.
“The Israeli regime has violated our national security and sovereignty through its latest act of terror. We have the legitimate right to self-defense – a matter that has nothing to do with the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip,” it said.
A US State Department spokesman said in response to the Iranian reports: “We do not want to speculate on what actions the Iranian regime will take.”
The spokesman said the United States is in constant contact with partners in the region and beyond, adding: “In these discussions, we heard a clear consensus: No one should allow this conflict to escalate.”
“We are having intensive diplomatic discussions with allies and partners who are conveying this message directly to Iran. We have conveyed this message directly to Israel,” the spokesman said.
Since then, Israel has killed nearly 40,000 Palestinians in Gaza, and thousands more are believed dead under the rubble. Israel’s atrocities in the Gaza Strip have been described as genocide and war crimes by several experts, UN agencies and international heads of state.
