Iran’s acting Foreign Minister, Baqeri Ali Bagheri Kani, has declared that the nation will retaliate for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh at the “right time” and in an “appropriate” manner. This statement came during an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), held in Saudi Arabia to deliberate on Iran’s response to the killing.
Iran retaliation
The OIC, a coalition of Muslim-majority countries, gathered in Jeddah upon the request of Iranian and Palestinian officials. The meeting was marked by heightened diplomacy and pressing discussions on the implications of Haniyeh’s assassination, which occurred in Tehran last week. The event has significantly escalated tensions in the Middle East, with Iran and its allies attributing the act to Israel, although Israel has not made any public comments regarding the incident.
During the OIC session, Foreign Minister Kani emphasized the necessity for member states to support Iran’s forthcoming actions. He framed Iran’s potential retaliation as a matter not only of national sovereignty and security but also of regional stability. “Iran’s action is not only a defense of its own sovereignty and national security but also a defense of the stability and security of the entire region,” Kani asserted.
Following the meeting, the OIC released a statement condemning the assassination and holding Israel “fully responsible” for the attack. The statement described the assassination as a “serious infringement” of Iran’s sovereignty but did not endorse any specific military response from Iran. This measured stance reflects the complex geopolitical considerations and the potential for widespread conflict escalation.
The assassination has drawn a wide array of international reactions. Saudi Arabia, commenting on the incident for the first time, labeled it a “blatant violation” of Iran’s sovereignty. The Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister, Waleed Al-Khuraiji, echoed the sentiments of many regional leaders, underscoring the potential for the incident to inflame broader regional tensions.
OIC Chair Mamadou Tangara warned that the killing of Haniyeh could trigger a wider conflict, affecting the entire region. He noted that the incident would not diminish the Palestinian cause but rather amplify it. This perspective highlights the deeply entrenched and volatile nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the broader geopolitical struggle in the Middle East.
The United States has also been actively engaged in diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation. US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller expressed hope that OIC members would urge Iran to refrain from actions that could escalate the conflict. Miller emphasized that there is a “broad consensus” among US allies and partners that further escalation would only exacerbate the region’s challenges.
US President Joe Biden has been in communication with key Middle Eastern leaders, including those of Jordan, Qatar, and Egypt, to address the crisis. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken reinforced this diplomatic push, stating, “No one should escalate this conflict. We’ve been engaged in intense diplomacy with allies and partners, communicating that message directly to Iran. We communicated that message directly to Israel.”
French President Emmanuel Macron also reached out to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, cautioning that any Iranian escalation could have long-term repercussions on regional stability. Pezeshkian, however, pointed to Western support for Israel as a contributing factor to the conflict, suggesting that halting arms sales to Israel could help mitigate tensions.
In the backdrop of these diplomatic maneuvers, the region remains on high alert. In a previous instance, Iran launched over 300 missiles and drones at Israel in response to an attack on its diplomatic compound in Syria. Although nearly all of these were intercepted, the current situation raises fears of a similar or even more extensive Iranian response.
As the international community watches closely, the call for restraint and diplomatic solutions remains paramount. The assassination of Ismail Haniyeh has underscored the fragile balance of power in the Middle East and the critical need for careful, measured actions to prevent a broader regional conflict.
