Egypt Daily News – The recent assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the Hamas political bureau, has escalated tensions between Iran and Israel, with Iranian officials indicating a strong likelihood of retaliation.
According to senior Iranian sources, the only factor that might delay the Iranian response is the potential for a ceasefire agreement in the ongoing Gaza negotiations. Iran has accused Israel of the assassination, while Israel has remained ambiguous about its involvement.
As the situation evolves, the United States has taken precautionary measures by deploying naval assets to the region, enhancing support for Israeli defenses.
Iranian officials, including a senior security representative, have hinted at immediate military action in coordination with allies like Hezbollah if the talks in Gaza falter or if they perceive Israel is stalling in negotiations.
Despite the serious nature of their warnings, Iran has not disclosed a specific timeline for its response. Amid rising tensions, Iran has reportedly engaged in discussions with Western nations, including the US, in an attempt to find ways to address the situation and mitigate the risk of a larger conflict.
Meanwhile, the US ambassador to Turkey has been advocating for allies to encourage Iran to de-escalate the situation.
As ceasefire talks are set to commence in Egypt or Qatar, Iran has expressed hope that any military response could be timed to avoid undermining these discussions.
Nonetheless, Iranian officials have criticized calls for restraint, emphasizing a perceived lack of political logic in such appeals. The Iranian Foreign Ministry’s recent statements underline the complexities of international law as it relates to their anticipated actions.
So far, neither the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs nor the Revolutionary Guard has issued public comments regarding these developing situations.
