Iranian Shura Council Speaker vows retaliation for Haniyeh's murder
2 Min Read
Iranian Shura Council Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf reiterated Iran's resolve to avenge the martyrdom of Ismail Haniyeh, framing it as a sacred national and religious duty.
-
Iranian Shura Council speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf while registering his name as a candidate for the Iranian Presidential elections on June 3, 2024. (AP)
In a public session of parliament on Sunday morning, Iranian Shura Council speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf reaffirmed Iran's commitment to avenging the martyrdom of Ismail Haniyeh, framing it as both a national and religious duty.
Ghalibaf warned that the "Zionist entity should brace for severe retaliation from the Iranian people."
Addressing the Israeli carnage in Gaza, specifically the harrowing massacre at Al-Tabieen school in Gaza City, Ghalibaf condemned it as evidence of the Zionist entity's inhumanity, asserting that "the Zionists understand only the language of power."
He described the Israeli actions as war crimes against humanity. Elsewhere in his remarks, Ghalibaf called on Islamic nations to offer tangible support to Palestinian Resistance in countering these crimes.
Iran rejects US blackmail: Ceasefire priority, unrelated to response
The Iranian Mission to the United Nations reiterated on Friday that Iran's priority is to achieve a lasting ceasefire in Gaza, emphasizing that any agreement accepted by Hamas will be recognized by Tehran.
When asked by Al-Monitor whether Iran will delay its retaliation until after cease-fire talks scheduled to be held next week, the Iranian mission stated that the "Israeli regime has violated our national security and sovereignty through its recent act of terrorism," and that the Islamic Republic has the legitimate "right to self-defense—a matter totally unrelated to the Gaza ceasefire".
Read more: Iran rejects US blackmail: Ceasefire priority, unrelated to response
However, the mission expressed hope that its response to the Israeli aggression would be measured and timed so as not to undermine the potential ceasefire in Gaza.
It acknowledged the existence of both direct and intermediary channels for communication with the United States, "the details of which both parties prefer to remain untold".
Read more: Iran rejects calls to tone down Haniyeh's assassination response: WSJ
Last week, "Israel" assassinated the head of Hamas' political Bureau Ismail Haniyeh while he was in Tehran on an official visit.
The Islamic Republic of Iran vowed to respond to the aggression amid heightened military preparations by "Israel," the US, and their allies.
