Tehran, Iran – Thousands of people filled the streets of Tehran to participate in the funeral procession for Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, as Iran considers its options following a vow to avenge his assassination. Haniyeh and his bodyguard were killed the day before in an attack attributed to Israel, and their coffins were carried through the capital amidst cries and chants. Palestinian, Lebanese, and Hamas flags waved in the air, while organizers distributed posters of Haniyeh. Mourners paid tribute to the Palestinian leader alongside the late Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, who was assassinated by the United States in 2020.
The ultraconservative newspaper Keyhan featured the headline: “Avenge the Blood of the Guest Lies with the Host, the World Awaits.” Several major newspapers followed up with themes of revenge, resistance, and mourning. “We must give Israel a strong response; anything less would make many people unhappy,” said Hamid Hajian, 46, to Al Jazeera during the funeral procession. “It seemed that a ceasefire agreement for Gaza might be possible, but that is now over. Talking won’t help; I hope Iran provides a stronger response than last time,” he added.
Iran’s highest authorities have promised “hard” reprisals for the killing of their “guest.” Haniyeh was assassinated shortly after the inauguration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Red flags were raised over the Jamkaran Mosque in the holy Shia city of Qom, and the Milad Tower, an iconic structure in Tehran, was illuminated in red as a symbol of the promised blood.
Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff for the Iranian Armed Forces, hinted that retaliation could be part of a coordinated effort with the so-called “Axis of Resistance,” a regional network of armed groups supported by Tehran. Khalil al-Hayya, deputy chief of Hamas in Gaza, stated at a press conference in Tehran that “a missile penetrated the room” where Haniyeh was located, killing him and his bodyguard. A photo published by Sabereen News, a media outlet linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), showed the site of the attack, but Al Jazeera could not independently verify the image.
The Iranian government has not confirmed the details surrounding the assassination but reported that a guided “airborne projectile” struck Haniyeh’s residence. An analyst interviewed by state media indicated that Haniyeh was likely tracked due to using the same SIM card as he had abroad.
As the threat of a major war looms over the region, some in Iran are concerned that the conflict could escalate. “I hope it will not escalate further, and I still believe we have not reached direct war, but much will depend on Iran’s response,” said a 24-year-old woman in Tehran, who wished to remain anonymous. “If Iran’s attack kills Israelis, then it is dangerous because the Israelis are bloodthirsty,” she added.
Israel has not commented on the assassination, but following the October 7 attack in southern Israel led by Hamas that killed 1,139 people, Israeli officials have vowed to kill Haniyeh and other Hamas leaders as part of their objective to dismantle the group.
According to reports, the United States has urged Iran, via intermediaries, not to retaliate against Israel, a request that Iran has categorically rejected. Meanwhile, the markets in Tehran reacted with concern, with the stock market falling by 2 percent on Wednesday, while the national currency, the rial, also dropped by about 3 percent.
Despite the turbulence, markets are not expected to be heavily affected further unless a full-scale war breaks out. Ali, a 31-year-old data analyst from Tehran, does not anticipate such a severe situation. “So much is happening so quickly; just this year, we have experienced things some would not experience in a lifetime. But I think Iran and Israel will likely target some military objectives and avoid a larger war,” he said.