Iran has not yet made any arrests related to the suspected Israeli assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, according to the Iranian judiciary on Tuesday. The Palestinian militant group's leader was reportedly killed last Wednesday during a visit for the inauguration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The judiciary's spokesman, Asghar Jahangir, stated that "necessary investigations" have commenced and results will be disclosed once the inquiry is finished. "No arrests have been made thus far in connection with this incident," Jahangir confirmed, noting that the investigations involve Iranian military personnel. Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed that Haniyeh was killed by a "short-range projectile" fired from outside his Tehran residence. Both Iran and Hamas have accused Israel and promised retaliation, though Israel has remained silent on the matter. Contrary to earlier reports by the New York Times that Iran had detained over two dozen individuals, including high-ranking intelligence officers, Jahangir labeled these claims as "rumors" and "false." He asserted that "Haniyeh's assassination will undoubtedly be met with a bold response by the Islamic Republic." Haniyeh's demise occurred shortly after an Israeli attack in south Beirut that killed a Hezbollah senior commander, whom Israel held responsible for a fatal rocket attack on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. These high-profile killings are among several significant events that have heightened regional tensions amid the ongoing Gaza war, which has involved Iran-backed militant groups across Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen. On Monday evening, Pezeshkian declared that Israel would "receive the response for its crimes and arrogance," while emphasizing that Tehran "is not seeking to escalate the war and crisis in the region."
Text: Lara Palmer
06.08.2024
Judiciary Spokesman Denies Earlier Reports of Arrests; Iran and Hamas Vow Retaliation Against Israel