Iran’s foreign minister has vowed a decisive response to the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Tehran on July 31.
In a phone call with Egypt’s foreign minister, Badr Abdel Aati, Abbas Araqchi stressed Iran’s “legitimate right” to retaliate against what he described as a terrorist act by the Israeli regime.
Araqchi’s statement follows the assassination, which is widely attributed to Israel, heightening already tense relations. Haniyeh was in Tehran to attend the inauguration of President Masoud Pezeshkian when he was killed, along with one of his bodyguards.
Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and President Pezeshkian, have made strong declarations to avenge Haniyeh’s death, reinforcing Araqchi’s remarks.
During their conversation, Araqchi and Abdel Aati also discussed the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Araqchi commended Egypt’s crucial efforts to mediate a ceasefire, which Hamas is reportedly considering.
He emphasized that Egypt’s role is pivotal in facilitating a resolution to the violence that has ravaged the region.
On Saturday, Hamas announced that a delegation led by senior official Khalil al-Hayya would travel to Cairo to hear the outcomes of ceasefire negotiations, facilitated by Egyptian and Qatari mediators.
The Gaza conflict has already claimed over 40,300 Palestinian lives, mostly women and children, since October 2023. The war, now in its tenth month, has left large parts of Gaza in ruins under a crippling blockade that has severely limited access to food, clean water, and medicine.
The Egyptian foreign minister updated Araqchi on Egypt’s diplomatic efforts to end the war in Gaza and deliver international humanitarian aid to the besieged territory. Both ministers agreed on the importance of preventing further escalation and the spread of conflict across the region.
They also committed to ongoing political consultations on regional developments and bilateral relations.
I am an experienced writer, analyst, and author. My exposure in English journalism spans more than 28 years. In the past, I have been working with daily The Muslim (Lahore Bureau), daily Business Recorder (Lahore/Islamabad Bureaus), Daily Times, Islamabad, daily The Nation (Lahore and Karachi). With daily The Nation, I have served as Resident Editor, Karachi. Since 2009, I have been working as a Freelance Writer/Editor for American organizations.
