Iran's supreme leader orders direct attack on Israel
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has ordered a 'direct strike' against Israel, according to a New York Times report citing Iranian officials.
Khamenei spoke of avenging Ismail Haniyeh's blood, shortly after the Hamas leader was assassinated in Tehran.
The New York Times is now reporting that three Iranian officials have confirmed that Khamenei gave the 'retaliation order' at an emergency meeting of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council on Wednesday morning.
Shaken by the embarrassment of Ismail Haniyeh's assassination in Tehran, top Iranian officials are issuing threats of harsh retaliation against Israel, attempting to put a brave face on a monumental security failure.
Blaming Israel, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei stated that he considers it a “duty to seek justice for him, who was martyred within the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a statement attributing the attack to "the Zionist regime" and declared that this "crime" would be met with a "harsh and painful response" from the Resistance Front, particularly from Iran.
Even the ostensibly 'moderate' Pezeshkian adopted a harsh tone, vowing that the Islamic Republic would defend its territorial "integrity, dignity, honor, and pride," and promising to make the "terrorist occupiers" regret their actions.
The Iranian foreign ministry released a statement accusing the US of being an "accomplice and supporter of Israel in the killing of Ismail Haniyeh," and indicated that the Islamic Republic considers an "appropriate response" to this action. Iran’s former acting foreign minister, Ali Bagheri-Kani, stated that Iran has the right to respond to the assassination of Haniyeh, describing the attack as a "cowardly act" and a “breach of international law and the UN Charter.” Senior Iranian diplomats also vowed significant retaliatory actions.
Iran’s UN Mission posted on X, stating, “The response to an assassination will indeed be special operations—harder and intended to instill deep regret in the perpetrator.” Mojtaba Amani, Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, also stated that “Iran, in return, will not allow this region to be prey to the joint US and Israeli administrations.”
The only official adopting a somewhat more measured tone was First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, who refrained from mentioning any retaliation and stated, “The high power of the establishment will not be affected by these mischievous actions.”
Aref also remarked that the attack aimed to create a new crisis in the region and complicate Iran's regional and international relations, particularly at the onset of the new administration's term.
One could argue that Aref has a point, as the attack and Iran's vow of retaliation for the Hamas leader's assassination cast doubt on the portrayal of the establishment as having shifted to a more 'moderate' direction.
Although chants of “Death to Israel” and “Death to America,” alongside calls for “wiping Israel off the map,” remain central to the Islamic Republic’s political discourse, officials had hinted at a strategy shift under new president Masoud Pezeshkian. In early July, Iran's former Acting Foreign Minister, Ali Bagheri-Kani, addressed the United Nations Security Council in New York, emphasizing Pezeshkian's foreign policy aimed at "opening new horizons" to foster "friendly relations with other nations based on dialogue, cooperation, equality, and mutual respect."
Despite these diplomatic assertions, Iran has continued to publicly prioritize and defend its support for sponsored militias, revealing a fundamental contradiction. While the West accuses Iran of sponsoring terrorism, thereby hindering mutual dialogue, Iran remains steadfast in its stance.
When asked whether Pezeshkian’s election would alter the US negotiating position, White House spokesman John Kirby unequivocally responded, "No," citing Iran's continued support for militant groups. “They’re still supporting terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. They’re still supporting the Houthis as the Houthis attack ships in the Red Sea. They’re still attacking shipping as well,” Kirby stated at a press conference. “So no, no.”
The presence of militia leaders, including Hamas' Political Bureau Head Ismail Haniyeh, Islamic Jihad Secretary-General Ziyad al-Nakhalah, and Yemeni Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdul-Salam, at Pezeshkian's inauguration on Tuesday in parliament, starkly underscores Tehran's true priorities.
Haniyeh's killing early on Wednesday suggested that sponsoring regional militias carries significant consequences, and while seeking the removal of sanctions, exposes inherent contradictions, underscoring the impossibility of having one's cake and eating it too.
The IRGC-affiliated Sabereen News has released photos of the building where it claims Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh was residing when he was assassinated early Wednesday.
Photo purported to show the building where Haniyeh stayed in Tehran
The residence is said to be located inside a military camp affiliated with IRGC Quds Force in northern Tehran.
Aerial view of the building in northern Tehran where Haniyeh is said to have been killed
Iran International cannot verify the veracity of this report, but there are signs that may suggest the building in the photo was indeed hit. The dark drape on the side of the building in the photo seems to cover damage. Zooming in on the image, there seems to be debris on the terrace below the drape.
The commander of Israel's Air Force, Tomer Bar, warned those who plan "to harm the citizens of the State of Israel," following the assassination of a Hezbollah and a Hamas official in Beirut and Tehran.
“This is another message to our enemy in the entire Middle East," he said in a statement Wednesday, "there is no point that is too far for us to attack,” he said in a statement.
Bar said dozens of Israeli aircrafts are “prepared and ready in a matter of minutes, for any scenario, in any arena."
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a brief televised statement, following to high profile assassinations in Lebanon and Iran in a day.
He did not mention Haniyeh, who was killed early hours of Wednesday in Tehran, but said his country had hit "the three Hs" hard: Houthis, Hamas, Hezbollah.
In what seemed to be an implicit warning against any retaliatory action, he said, "they will pay a price if there is any aggression against us, wherever that theater is."
He also reminded Israelis that the days ahead would be "very challenging."
Iran's former nuclear negotiator threatened Israel with paying a 'heavy price' for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
"Undoubtedly, the Israeli occupying regime...will not achieve its ominous goal of putting obstacles in the path of Iran's new government at the outset of its endeavor."
Araghchi has been deputy foreign minister before and is said to be a serious contender for the top post in Iran's new administration under Masoud Pezeshkian.
