Iran slammed Israel for what it called was a 'heinous crime' of Israel's killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. Iran comment against Israel came after the latter admitted its role in killing Haniyeh who had been key figure in Hamas for decades. In the United Nations on Tuesday (December 24) Iran described this a 'brazen admission' of the killing in July and justified the retaliatory missile strike it carried out.
"This brazen admission marks the first time the Israeli regime has openly confessed to its responsibility for this heinous crime," said Iran's UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani.
Haniyeh was killed on July 31 in Iranian capital Tehran in an explosion. The explosive device was allegedly planted weeks earlier by Israel. The admission by Israel is the first acknowledgement from the country of its hand in the killing. Iran and Hamas both, had previously alleged that Israel was responsible for killing Haniyeh.
Iran Justifies Missile Strike
Iran launched more than 100 missiles against Israel in October as retaliation of Haniyeh killing. Ambassador Iravani justified the strikes as a "legitimate and legal defensive response."
"It also reaffirms the legitimacy and legality of Iran's defensive response on 1 October 2024, as well as Iran's consistent position that the occupying and terrorist regime of Israel remains the most serious threat to regional and international peace and security," he stated.
Haniyeh's killing was one in series of such eliminations allegedly carried out by Israel. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed on September 27. Haniyeh's successor Yahya Sinwar was killed on October 7. Israel has been alleging that it was Sinwar who orchestrated Hamas attack against Israel on October 7, 2023.
