In a statement by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, he promised “harsh punishment” for Israel in response to the assassination of Hamas’ political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran. Khamenei described the act as a “crime” committed by the “terrorist Zionist” government, which “martyred our dear guest in our house and left us mourning.” He emphasized that it is Iran’s duty to avenge Haniyeh’s death, which occurred while he was in the Iranian capital for the inauguration of President Masoud Pezeshkian. “We consider it our duty to avenge his blood in this bitter and difficult event that took place in the Islamic Republic,” he stated, extending condolences to Haniyeh’s family and Hamas.

In light of the assassination, Iran has declared three days of public mourning for Haniyeh. A funeral ceremony will be held in Iran on Thursday, after which Haniyeh’s body will be transported to Doha, Qatar, according to Hamas’ announcement on their Telegram channel. The burial will take place in Qatar’s capital on Friday.

Israel has not yet commented on the assassination, but has previously promised to eliminate Haniyeh and other Hamas leaders following the attack on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1,197 people and triggered Israel’s ongoing deadly conflict with Gaza. Israeli media reported that ministers and officials were instructed not to comment on Haniyeh’s assassination.

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 39,400 people have been killed as a result of Israel’s intense bombardment of the enclave. Pezeshkian pledged that his country would “defend its territory” and make the attackers “regret their cowardly actions.” The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that the attack demonstrates that the “Zionist gang of criminals, murderers, and terrorists” does not respect international laws.

Ali Hashem, a reporter from Al Jazeera, noted that the implications of Iran’s reaction to the attack on its territory are significant. “The reactions will be major for the entire region. This could mean an Iranian attack on Israel. I cannot imagine what will happen next,” Hashem said.

Earlier in April, an Israeli attack on Iran’s consulate in Damascus, Syria, resulted in the deaths of 13 people, including an IRGC commander. Iran responded by launching a series of missiles and drones targeting Israeli territory.