Iran marks first anniversary of martyr Ismail Haniyeh's assassination
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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and the Foreign Ministry commemorated the first anniversary of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh's assassination in Tehran.
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Iranian workers install a huge banner on a wall showing a portrait of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and the Dome of Rock Mosque at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound of Jerusalem at Felestin (Palestine) Sq. in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, July 31, 2024. (AP)
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has commemorated the first anniversary of the assassination of martyr Hamas Political Bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh, reiterating Iran’s unwavering support for the Palestinian Resistance and sharply denouncing Israeli actions in Gaza and beyond.
In a post shared on Saturday, Pezeshkian reflected on the political significance of the killing, which occurred in Tehran during the inauguration ceremony of his presidency, to which Haniyeh had been invited as a state guest.
"One year ago, on the first day of my presidency, our official guest, the freedom-loving brother Ismail Haniyeh, was assassinated by the Zionist regime. The war crimes of this regime in Gaza, Iran, and the region are a disgrace to humanity," he wrote.
"We remain steadfast in defending Iran and supporting the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination. We honor the memory of our martyr guest," he added.
سال قبل در اولین روز مسئولیتم، مهمان رسمی ما، برادر آزادیخواه اسماعیل هنیه، توسط رژیم صهیونیستی ترور شد. جنایات جنگی این رژیم در غزه، ایران و منطقه مایهٔ شرم بشریت است. ما در دفاع از ایران و حمایت از حق تعیین سرنوشت مردم فلسطین استواریم. یاد مهمان شهیدمان را گرامی میداریم.
— Masoud Pezeshkian (@drpezeshkian) August 1, 2025
Foreign Ministry: Haniyeh's assassination flagrant breach on international law
The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued a formal statement marking the occasion. It described Haniyeh, a long-time ally of the late General Qassem Soleimani, as a martyr whose death galvanized the Resistance movement across the region.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran honors the memory of this great martyr and a long-time companion of Martyr General Qasem Soleimani, extending its congratulations and condolences to the Leader of the Revolution, the resilient people of Palestine, the family of Martyr Haniyeh, the Hamas movement, all resistance groups in Palestine and the region, and to all freedom-loving people worldwide," the statement read.
The ministry denounced Haniyeh’s assassination as a flagrant breach of international norms and Iran’s territorial sovereignty.
"The assassination of Martyr Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, while he was an official guest at the inauguration ceremony of the Iranian president, was a grave crime and a blatant violation of international law, national sovereignty, and the territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran," it declared.
The statement added that Haniyeh’s legacy will live on through the continued struggle for Palestinian liberation.
"The continuous military and political support from the United States and some other Western countries for this regime has turned them into accomplices and partners in the crimes committed, making them liable for international responsibility due to the genocide and war crimes perpetrated by the Israeli regime."
Remembering Martyr Haniyeh
Ismail Haniyeh emerged from the humble surroundings of the al‑Shati refugee camp in Gaza to become a defining symbol of Palestinian resistance.
Born in 1962, he joined Hamas during the First Intifada and was imprisoned by "Israel" several times before rising to prominence as a close aide to Hamas co-founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.
After leading Hamas to victory in the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections, he served as Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority and was effectively its Gaza-based leader from 2006 to 2017.
In May 2017, Haniyeh became chairman of Hamas's Political Bureau, steering the group's external diplomacy from Qatar and engaging in cease‑fire negotiations with "Israel", Egypt, and Qatar.
Throughout multiple wars and personal tragedies, including the loss of several sons and grandchildren in Israeli strikes, he stayed resolutely committed to the Palestinian cause, continuing to champion armed resistance and political recognition of Palestinian rights.
Haniyeh’s life, leadership, and legacy represent a steadfast embodiment of Palestinian defiance across political, diplomatic, and military fronts.
Read more: Ismail Haniyeh's journey of Resistance: From exile to martyrdom
