In a bold statement, Iran's caretaker Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani asserted that the assassination of Hamas politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh could not have occurred without the support and intelligence backing of the United States.
Speaking at the extraordinary ministerial meeting of the Executive Committee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Bagheri Kani labeled Haniyeh's assassination as \"only one instance of Israel's terrorist crimes.\" He emphasized that this act represented a \"flagrant aggression against Iran's national sovereignty and territorial integrity.\"
The Iranian official called on the UN Security Council to hold Israel accountable for such violations, urging that those responsible be brought to trial and face punishment.
Bagheri Kani highlighted the pivotal role of the U.S. as Israel's main supporter, stating that the heinous crime of assassinating Haniyeh would not have been possible without American green light and intelligence support.
He added that in the absence of appropriate action by the UN Security Council, Iran would exercise its \"inherent right to legitimate self-defense in the face of Israel's aggressions.\" This move, he asserted, was necessary to prevent further attacks on Iran's sovereignty, people, and territory, and would be undertaken at the \"required time and in a proportionate form.\"
Ismail Haniyeh, who had been invited to attend Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's swearing-in ceremony, was killed along with his bodyguard on July 31 when their residence in Tehran was struck. Iran has accused Israel of orchestrating the attack and vowed a \"harsh and painful response.\"
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Iran: Hamas chief's assassination not possible without U.S. support
cgtn.com
