Iran's rhetoric softens as it balances retaliation for Hamas leader

Ali-Mohammad Naini, the spokesperson for the IRGC, tempered Iran’s rhetoric on Tuesday, adopting a more measured tone regarding sharp revenge for the killing of Ismail Haniyeh.

Israel has neither confirmed nor denied involvement in Haniyeh's assassination in the Iranian capital on July 31, which further escalating the already tense relations between Tehran and Tel Aviv.

Naini remarked, "Time is on our side, and the waiting period for this response may be prolonged." This shift suggests a strategic withdrawal from Tehran’s earlier threats of immediate and severe retaliation against Israel, as Tehran reportedly delays its strike to avoid disrupting ongoing ceasefire talks aimed at ending the Gaza conflict.

Despite the apparent de-escalation, Naini insisted that "the enemy should expect calculated and precise strikes at the right time," and added that Iran's response might not mirror its past operations.

Naini further claimed that Israel failed to achieve its objectives with the assassination of Haniyeh, arguing that the "Resistance Front" has only grown stronger. He emphasized Iran's resolve to respond to what he described as “the Zionist regime's aggressions,” warning that “those in the occupied territories” are now suffering the consequences of Netanyahu's actions.

Jason Brodsky, the policy director for United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), noted that Naini's remarks about "a long wait" for Israel are rooted in his role as one of the IRGC's top "experts" in psychological warfare and soft war.

He referred to an article by New Lines Magazine in which two Iran experts Saeed Golkar and Kasra Aarabi say Naini’s appointment was made by the Supreme Leader’s representative to the IRGC, Abdollah Haji Sadeghi, rather than by the commander-in-chief, Hossein Salami. The importance of this change is highlighted by the fact that Naini's predecessor, Ramazan Sharif, held the role for more than 18 years.

“An assessment of Naini’s expertise and experience in the context of the responsibilities of his role as deputy for public relations reveals a lot about the future trajectory of the IRGC. His appointment is a clear indication that the supreme leader’s office is preparing to step up the IRGC’s psychological warfare operations and intends to better coordinate control over its propaganda, communications and PR operations,” reads their article.

“The appointment of Naini reveals the direction of travel for the IRGC. The speed with which Naini asserted himself to limit the damage to the IRGC following reports that foreign infiltration was responsible for Haniyeh’s assassination gives an indication of the aggressive approach to propaganda and cognitive war the IRGC will take under his tenure.”

Naeini’s comments come after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Iran and its allies of severe consequences should they choose to attack.

At the start of a weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday, Netanyahu issued a warning to Iran and Hezbollah, emphasizing Israel's preparedness to defend itself against any threats from these adversaries.

"We are determined to defend ourselves, and we are also determined to extract a very heavy price from any enemy that dares to attack us, from any theater," Netanyahu underlined.

Netanyahu also reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to its security principles, insisting they would remain non-negotiable despite the complexities of the peace talks.

Israel remains engaged in indirect negotiations with Hamas, with mediation efforts led by Qatar, the United States, and Egypt. The talks, held in Doha over the past week, aim to secure the release of Israeli hostages captured by Hamas during the October 7 attacks, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,100 Israelis. Despite these efforts, substantial disagreements persist between the two sides.