IRAN hopes its response to Israel’s killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran will not affect a potential ceasefire in Gaza, Iran’s mission to the United Nations said in a statement.
“Our priority is to establish a lasting ceasefire in Gaza. Any agreement accepted by Hamas will also be recognized by us,” the statement said, Friday (9/8).
“The Israeli regime has violated our national security and sovereignty through its recent acts of terrorism. We have the legitimate right to defend ourselves, which is in no way related to the ceasefire in Gaza,” the Iranian mission said in a statement.
“However, we expect our response to be timed and conducted in such a way as not to jeopardize the potential for a ceasefire,” the statement said.
Last week, the Palestinian movement Hamas said that an Israeli strike had killed Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh at his residence in Tehran, after Haniyeh attended the inauguration of Iran’s new president.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned of a tough response to the killing.
“Direct official channels and intermediaries for exchanging messages have always existed between Iran and the United States. The details are preferred by both sides not to be disclosed,” the statement added. (Ant/Z-2)
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