- Thousands mourn Haniyeh in Tehran
In the Iranian capital, Tehran, thousands of people attended a state-organized funeral ceremony for the slain political leader of the Islamic Hamas, Ismail Haniyah. Present were the entire political elite of Iran, including the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and the new President Massoud Peshkehian. Khamenei led a prayer service before Haniyah's coffin.
The crowd chanted "Death to Israel" and "Death to America" in support of Haniyah and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and in defiance of Israel. Iran's government had declared a three-day national mourning period following the targeted killing of the high-ranking Hamas leader in Tehran. Haniyah will be buried on Friday in his adopted home of Qatar.
Haniyah was in Tehran on Tuesday to attend the inauguration of the new Iranian President Peshkehian. In the early hours of Wednesday, he was killed in an airstrike. Hamas and Iran blame their arch-enemy Israel.
The exact cause of his death remains unclear. Experts suggest either an airstrike or a missile attack. The strike took place at a "special residence" in northern Tehran - reportedly in the former Persian Shah's palace - which is usually heavily guarded.
Simultaneously with Hamas, Iran has threatened a swift retaliation against Israel. Khamenei and President Peshkehian described a retaliatory strike as the legitimate right of the country, as the attack was carried out on Iranian soil. The Iranian Security Council has discussed various scenarios in this regard, but details have not been disclosed.
The attack came at an inopportune time for Iran, just eight hours after the inauguration of the supposedly moderate Peshkehian as the new Iranian President. In his speech, he spoke of a new era in which he would seek constructive dialogue with the West. Observers doubt that such dialogue would be possible after a potential retaliatory strike on Israel.
Iran is also grappling with a long-standing economic crisis. Peshkehian had promised to boost the ailing economy through foreign policy reforms before his election. What he likely doesn't need is a military conflict with arch-enemy Israel, which could further isolate the Islamic country internationally.
The following event occurred just eight hours after the inauguration of President Massoud Peshkehian: Haniyah's targeted killing in Tehran.The investigation into Haniyah's death is ongoing, with experts considering the possibility of an airstrike or missile attack.
