Iran weighs most effective response to Israel over Haniyeh assassination: Lawmaker

By Alireza Hashemi

Iran is considering an effective and strong option to punish the Israeli regime over the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, and this response will be contingent on regional conditions, according to a lawmaker.

Speaking to the Press TV website, Abolfazl Zohrevand, a parliamentarian and former Iranian ambassador to Italy, stated that Iran's response seeks to incur the least cost and yield the most benefit.

"Iran has announced that it will definitely take revenge on the Zionist regime, but the timing and method of punishment will be determined by us," the lawmaker asserted.

"This has been planned in line with regional developments to strike the most effective blow on the regime at the right time."

Haniyeh, the former political bureau head of the Hamas resistance movement, was assassinated in an attack on August 1 in Tehran while he was in the Iranian capital to attend the swearing-in ceremony of President Masoud Pezeshkian.

The cowardly terrorist strike was condemned by the Iranian government as well as regional countries. Top Iranian leadership vowed a severe response to avenge the blood of the visiting Hamas official.

The assassination came amid the Israeli genocidal war against Palestinians in Gaza, which has so far claimed more than 41,000 lives, most of them children and women.

Zohrevand said the delay in Iran's retaliation has caused psychological distress among Israelis, with Israeli military affairs minister Yoav Gallant expressing concern about the imminent retaliation.

“Every night they go to sleep not knowing whether they will face Operation Promise of Truth 2.”

On Western media speculation that President Pezeshkian might be wary of an anti-Israel operation, the senior lawmaker emphasized that all organs in the Islamic Republic are united in their intent to take stern action against the Tel Aviv regime.

"Pezeshkian government favors retaliation, and the president has mentioned in his speeches that the aggressor who violated Iran's sovereignty, on the day of his inauguration, should be punished," Zohrevand said, adding that the terrorist act was a direct challenge to the new Iranian administration.

While Iran's response is certain, Zohrevand acknowledged that a ceasefire in Gaza could impact the situation, stating that a ceasefire agreement on the terms announced by Hamas could be influential.

“An agreement with Hamas could be influential. It might happen tonight or tomorrow. However, if a ceasefire with Hamas is reached, it will have an impact, as the issue is about defending the rights of Palestinians,” he explained.

However, he asserted that the Iranian retaliation is imminent, irrespective of the scale and nature of it.

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