Iran seeks to avoid harming Gaza ceasefire talks with retaliation for Haniyeh assassination

Iran on Saturday said it wanted to avoid negatively impacting Gaza ceasefire talks with its anticipated retaliation against Israel over the assassination of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh last month, Anadolu reports.

Achieving a permanent ceasefire in Gaza remains a priority, Iran’s permanent mission to the UN said in a statement following inquiries about whether Tehran would delay its retaliation plans for the planned ceasefire talks.

It also said that any agreement accepted by Hamas would be acceptable to Iran as well.

The statement condemned Haniyeh’s assassination in Tehran as a “violation of Iranian national security and sovereignty.”

Iran emphasized its right to self-defence but stressed that it hopes its response would not impede the ongoing ceasefire efforts.

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The Iranian statement comes amid heightened tensions following Haniyeh’s assassination on 31 July, as well as earlier Israeli strikes in Beirut that killed Fuad Shukr, a senior commander of Lebanese group Hezbollah.

On Thursday, leaders from Egypt, Qatar, and the US called for resuming ceasefire and hostage exchange talks between Israel and Hamas, scheduled for either Wednesday or Thursday next week in Doha or Cairo.

The Israeli onslaught against the Gaza Strip has killed nearly 39,700 people since last October.

More than 10 months into the Israeli onslaught, vast tracts of Gaza lie in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

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