Iran’s Khamenei leads funeral prayer for Haniyeh in Tehran

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, led the funeral prayer for Hamas’s Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh and his security guard, Wasim Abu Shaaban, following their assassination in Tehran. The ceremony, held at Tehran University, saw massive crowds mourning the loss of the Palestinian resistance leader.

Haniyeh was visiting Tehran for the inauguration of President Masoud Pezeshkian. Preliminary investigations suggest Israeli involvement, potentially with US support, though details remain unclear.

IRAN: An official funeral ceremony will be held for the head of Hamas' political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Thursday, before his body is transferred to the Qatari capital, Doha, for funeral prayers and burial on Friday.

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— The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) August 1, 2024

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf criticised the occupation state, calling its actions desperate. “The era of ‘hit and run’ for Israel and its ally, the US, has ended,” he stated, warning of a “heavy price” for the assassination.

READ: Palestinians stage general strike to protest Haniyeh’s assassination

During the funeral, Haniyeh’s death was condemned as a terrorist act by Israeli forces. The Iranian government promised to avenge the assassination, while Hamas’s Khalil Al-Hayya reiterated the movement’s stance against recognising Israel.

Yesterday on X, Khamenei’s official account stated it was the Islamic Republic’s “duty” to take revenge for Haniyeh’s killing.

Following this bitter, tragic event which has taken place within the borders of the Islamic Republic, it is our duty to take revenge.

— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) July 31, 2024

Thousands marched in the Iranian capital, with senior officials, including President Pezeshkian and General Hossein Salami, attending. The incident, which came just hours after the killing of Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr by Israel, and today’s announcement that Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif was killed in a strike on Gaza in July, has raised the likelihood of regional war.

The funeral procession for martyr Ismail Haniyeh today in Tehran.

The illegitimate Zionist regime will pay a heavy price for this crime. pic.twitter.com/0iekLIO94H

— Seyed Mohammad Marandi (@s_m_marandi) August 1, 2024

The assassination has drawn condemnation from regional and international leaders while UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for de-escalation. The US and Qatar also emphasised the need for peace, despite the increasing tensions following the assassinations.

OPINION: Haniyeh was the pragmatic leader of Hamas