Lavrov says Haniyeh assassination unacceptable in talks with Iran FM

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has denounced as unacceptable the assassination of the head of the political bureau of the Hamas resistance movement Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, warning of its extremely dangerous consequences.

In a telephone conversation with Iran’s interim Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani on Thursday evening, both sides expressed their condemnation of the killing of the Hamas leader and pointed out the extremely dangerous repercussions of such actions in relation to simmering tensions in West Asia and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The two top diplomats noted that the architects of this provocative move wished to cease the negotiation process over a ceasefire in Gaza with such a step, stressing that the United States in militarily involved in all Israeli attempts to slide UN Security Council resolutions on formation of a Palestinian state into oblivion.

Lavrov also called upon all parties that can influence the situation in the Gaza Strip and West Asia to avoid any action that could cause further destabilization and loss of lives.

Iran’s UN ambassador urges Security Council action on Haniyeh assassination

Amir-Saeed Iravani said the regime carried out a “cowardly terrorist attack” in Tehran targeting a high-ranking official guest.

Haniyeh, who was in Tehran to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Iran's newly-elected President Masoud Pezeshkian, alongside other Axis of Resistance leaders, was martyred along with his bodyguard, in an attack early on Wednesday.

Details of the assassination plot remain unknown, but preliminary investigations suggest the involvement of the Israeli regime, with approval from the administration of US President Joe Biden.

On Wednesday, Ayatollah Khamenei warned the Israeli regime of a "harsh response" for Haniyeh's assassination, calling it the Islamic Republic's duty to avenge the Palestinian resistance leader's blood.

“The criminal and terrorist Zionist regime martyred our dear guest in our homeland and left us bereaved, but it also set the ground for a harsh punishment for itself,” the Leader said.

‘Iran will use its legitimate right to retaliate, punish Israel’

In a separate phone call with Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi, Bagheri Kani stated that Israel has posed grave risks to regional stability and security by violating Iran's territorial integrity and national security.

“Iran will, therefore, exercise its inherent and legitimate right to take countermeasures and duly punish the Zionist regime,” he said.

Iran’s attorney general orders swift probe into Haniyeh’s assassination

Mohammad Movahedi Azad has instructed the appointment of a special investigation team in that regard.

Bagheri said Iran has called for an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation at the foreign ministers' level to address Haniyeh’s killing and violation of its territorial integrity and national security.

For his part, Busaidi condemned the assassination of the prominent Palestinian leader and violation of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s territorial integrity.

Ismail Haniyeh was standing at the forefront of the Axis of Resistance against aggression and occupation in the region. He made a great deal of efforts to stop the Israeli genocide in Gaza, the top Omani diplomat stated.

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