DUBAI/UNITED NATIONS:
Iran is to carry out Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s order to “severely punish” Israel for the killing of a Hamas leader in Tehran, a deputy commander of the Revolutionary Guards said on Friday, according to local news agencies.
“The supreme leader’s orders regarding harsh punishment of Israel and revenge for the blood of martyr Ismail Haniyeh are clear and unequivocal … and will be implemented in the best possible way,” Ali Fadavi said, according to Iranian media.
Iran and the Palestinian group Hamas accuse Israel of carrying out the assassination of Haniyeh on July 31. Israel neither claimed nor denied responsibility for the killing, which further fueled concerns that the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip was turning into a wider Middle East war.
Asked by reporters to respond to Fadawi’s comments, White House National Security Press Secretary John Kirby said the U.S. is ready to defend Israel with many resources in the region, adding: “When we hear rhetoric like that, we have to take it seriously.” . and we do it.”
Iran’s mission to the United Nations said later on Friday that Tehran’s response to Israel’s killing of Haniya was “a matter completely unrelated” to efforts to broker a ceasefire in the 10-month war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
“However, we hope that our response will be timed and conducted in a way that does not damage the potential ceasefire,” the mission said when asked if Iran could delay its retaliation until after ceasefire talks in Gaza next week.
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The United States, Egypt and Qatar on Thursday invited Israel and Hamas to meet for talks on August 15 in Doha or Cairo to finalize a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal. Israel said it would attend, while a Hamas official told Reuters the group was “studying” the new offer for talks.
“Our priority is to establish a lasting ceasefire in Gaza; any deal accepted by Hamas will also be recognized by us,” Iran’s UN mission in New York said.
“The Israeli regime has violated our national security and sovereignty through its recent act of terrorism. We have a legitimate right to self-defense – a matter completely unrelated to the Gaza ceasefire,” he said.
Asked about the Iranian reports, a US State Department spokesman said: “We don’t want to speculate on what actions the Iranian regime will take.”
The spokesman said the United States was in constant contact with partners in the region and beyond, and added: “In these talks, we heard a clear consensus: no one should escalate this conflict.”
“We have engaged in intense diplomacy with allies and partners who are communicating this message directly to Iran. We have communicated this message directly to Israel,” the spokesman said.
Since October 7, Israel has killed nearly 40,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to figures from health officials in the enclave, who say thousands more are feared dead under the rubble.
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