Tehran blames Israel for the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in the Iranian capital.
Iran has turned down Western appeals not to strike back at Israel for the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, a Hamas leader, in Tehran last month.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Nasser Kanani, said these demands are unreasonable and violate international law. He also criticized the West for not addressing the “inhumane” actions in Gaza and other Israeli attacks in the region, which he believes encourages more instability.
On Monday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, that the West’s lack of response to these issues is irresponsible and threatens both regional and global security.
The killing of Haniyeh occurred on July 31, shortly after an Israeli strike in Beirut killed a senior Hezbollah commander. Israel has not officially acknowledged its involvement in Haniyeh’s death.
Western diplomats are working hard to prevent a larger conflict in the Middle East, which is already tense due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. The White House has warned that Iran and its allies might launch significant attacks soon and has sent military support to the region for Israel.
Experts believe Iran will respond to Israeli strikes but will likely avoid full-scale war. In April, Iran launched a large-scale attack on Israel but most of the missiles were intercepted. This time, Iran might use its regional allies, but some of these groups may not be capable of causing significant damage.
Hamas fired rockets at Tel Aviv on Tuesday, but no casualties were reported. There is some hope that a ceasefire might be reached, but negotiations are uncertain and may not proceed if Hamas officials do not attend.
In Israel, tensions are also high domestically. Far-right parties oppose any ceasefire in Gaza. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir led a controversial demonstration at a holy site in Jerusalem, which disrupted the delicate status quo and might affect upcoming negotiations.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant casualties. Nearly 40,000 Palestinians have died since the war began in October following a surprise Hamas attack that killed 1,200 Israelis.
The situation remains dire, with heavy fighting in Gaza and increasing international concern.
