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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reacted to the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran.
Speaking at a forum in Singapore, Blinken did not directly address the killing of Haniyeh but said “We were not aware of or involved in... it is very hard to speculate, we have learned not to speculate,” he said.
Blinken emphasized the necessity of a ceasefire in Gaza, saying that achieving a ceasefire in Gaza "is the enduring imperative."
Iranian officials condemned the Wednesday assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, blaming Israel and vowing "retribution," while downplaying security lapses.
Following the Palestinian leader’s death, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei stated, "The criminal and terrorist Zionist regime, with this action, has paved the way for severe punishment for itself. We consider it our 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 blaming “the Zionist regime” for the attack. They declared that this "crime" would be met with a "harsh and painful response" from the Resistance Front, particularly from Iran.
Early indications suggest that Haniyeh and his bodyguard died when a rocket or drone struck the residence where they were staying, raising the possibility of Israeli infiltration. This has inevitably turned attention towards Israel, which had vowed to hunt down and punish all Hamas leaders following the brutal attacks of October 7, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis and foreigners.
Israel typically refrains from commenting on its operations abroad. However, this attack might mirror the pattern of multiple Israeli operations, the latest being targeting Iranian air defenses around its nuclear facility in Natanz on April 19.
Observers assert that this incident exposes significant vulnerabilities within the Islamic Republic's security apparatus. The assassination occurred on a day designated for heightened security measures due to the inauguration of President Masoud Pezeshkian which took place the day before, underscoring a severe breach. Pezeshkian vowed that the Islamic Republic would defend its territorial “integrity, dignity, honor, and pride,” promising to make the "terrorist occupiers" regret their actions. "Yesterday, I raised his victorious hand, and today, I have to carry him on my shoulders for his funeral," Pezeshkian added.
Members of Iran’s Parliament, in their denunciation of the assassination, emphasized that “the Zionist regime is increasingly mired in the depths of its demise with each passing day,” repeating typical rhetoric of Islamic officials in Iran.
First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref stated that the assassination was driven by "sinister objectives" aimed at creating a new crisis in the region and complicating Iran's regional and international relations, particularly at the onset of the new administration's term.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf announced on his X account that "Iran and the Resistance Front will not disregard the blood of Ismail Haniyeh."
Former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif stated on X, "The cowardly assassination of our guest will only strengthen our resolve to defend our territory and support the Palestinian people's fight for their freedom."
The Iranian currency immediately lost value, trading at more than 600,000 rials per one US dollar in the wake of the assassination. For a relatively long time the rial was hovering around 570,000 to 590,000 per dollar.
Many Iranians on social media expressed views highlighting the apparent weakness of the Islamic government in protecting their own high-level foreign guets.
The government of Pakistan condemned the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, criticizing Israel's "adventurism in the region" and warning about the risk of further escalation.
In a statement, Pakistan's foreign ministry expressed "serious concern" over the increasing Israeli activities in the region, describing them as a "dangerous escalation in an already volatile region" that undermines peace efforts.
The ministry also censured the timing of what it called a "reckless act," noting that it coincided with the swearing-in of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Also on Wednesday, Egypt condemned the recent strikes that targeted Hezbollah military leader Fuad Shukr in Beirut and Haniyeh in Tehran, describing them as a "dangerous escalation" that could destabilize the region.
The Egyptian foreign ministry stated that these actions undermine "the strenuous efforts made by Egypt and its partners to stop the war in the Gaza Strip" and "indicate the absence of Israeli political will to calm the situation."
Cairo has called on the United Nations Security Council to intervene to "prevent the security situation in the region from spiraling out of control."
Mohammad Javad Zarif, the former Iranian foreign minister, accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of driving the region and the world “to the brink of catastrophe.”
In a statement on X, Zarif criticized the international community for “silently watching Israel's genocide, and repeated acts of international terrorism and aggression.”
He added that Netanyahu's survival depends on "death and destruction."
“The cowardly assassination of our guest will only strengthen our resolve to defend our territory and support the Palestinian people's fight for their freedom.”
Zarif urged the US and EU to stop “shielding Netanyahu's madness” and to join the world to end his "suicidal chaos."
Russia stated on Wednesday that the Middle East is teetering on the brink of a major war, with key players escalating tensions.
"The region is currently balancing on the brink of a global conflict," said Andrei Nastasin, deputy spokesman for the Russian foreign ministry. "The parties continue to raise the stakes."
