Why Iran must retaliate for Haniyeh’s assassination in Tehran
The brazen Israeli assassination of the head of Hamas’ political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran marks a hugely significant inflection point in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Coming as it did fast on the heels of the assassination of leading Hezbollah operative, Fuad Shukr, in southern Beirut, it proves that Iranian security has been thoroughly penetrated by the Israelis — and perhaps even all the way up to ranking members of the Islamic Republic’s security apparatus having been recruited by Mossad.
How else to explain such a spectacular double whammy, with all the intelligence that had to have been involved in the tracing and targeting of both men?
Adding still more significance to Haniyeh’s assassination is the fact it occurred during his visit to the country for the swearing-in of Iran’s newly elected President Masoud Pezeshkian, considered a moderate by Iranian standards. Pezeshkian, it should be noted, had voiced his intention to enter negotiations with the West with a view to normalising economic relations and achieving sanctions relief, likely starting with Europe. Well, now, with one missile strike, Tel Aviv has put paid to this scenario unfolding anytime soon, given the clamor for revenge that has emanated from the Ayatollah and the ranks of his private army, the IRGC, since.
