2024-08-01 07:31:52
In the Iranian capital Tehran, thousands of people attended a state mourning ceremony for the slain political leader of Islamist Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh. Iran’s entire political elite was also in attendance, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and new President Masoud Pezeshkian. Khamenei held funeral prayers in front of Haniyeh’s coffin.
The crowd chanted “Death to Israel” and “Death to America”, expressing support for Haniyeh and Hamas in the Gaza Strip and opposition to Israel. The Iranian government ordered three days of national mourning following the targeted killing of a senior Hamas leader in Tehran. Haniyeh will be buried in his second home, Qatar, on Friday.
Haniyeh was in Tehran on Tuesday to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Iran’s new President Pezeshkian. He became the victim of an airstrike on Wednesday night. Hamas and Iran blame their old enemy Israel. What exactly led to his death is still unclear. Experts speak of an air or missile attack. The attack took place at a “special residence” in northern Tehran – said to be the palace of a former Persian king – which is usually heavily guarded.
Along with Hamas, Iran has also threatened timely retaliatory actions against Israel. Khamenei and President Pezeshkian described the punitive action as the country’s legal right because the attack was carried out on Iranian soil. During the crisis meeting, the Iranian Security Council also studied various situations in this regard. Details have not yet been released. This attack comes at a very bad time for Iran. Just eight hours ago, Pezeshkian, considered a moderate, was sworn in as Iran’s new president. He talked about the new era in his speech, and he also wanted to have a constructive dialogue with the West. Observers believe such dialogue is also unlikely in the wake of possible retaliatory attacks on Israel.
Iran is also mired in a protracted economic crisis. Before his election, Pezeshkian promised to stimulate the sluggish economy through foreign policy reforms. Observers believe he has absolutely no need for a military conflict with arch-enemy Israel, which could once again plunge the Islamic country into international isolation.
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