Tehran, Iran – 1000’s poured into the streets of Tehran to hitch the funeral procession of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh as Iran weighs its choices having promised to avenge his assassination.
The our bodies of the Palestinian political official and his bodyguard, who was killed alongside him a day earlier in Iran in a strike blamed on Israel, have been marched amid chants within the capital.
تصاویر هوایی از تشییع پیکر شهید هنیه پس از اقامه نماز رهبر معظم انقلاب در تهران pic.twitter.com/1XzalnPU6y
— خبرگزاری ایرنا (@IRNA_1313) August 1, 2024
Flags of Palestine, Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Hamas swayed within the wind as organisers handed out posters of Haniyeh. Banners honoured the Palestinian chief and the late Iranian common Qassem Soleimani who was assassinated by america in 2020, amongst others.
“Avenging the blood of the visitor is with the host, the world is ready,” learn the headline of the ultraconservative Keyhan newspaper, whose editor-in-chief is appointed by the supreme chief.
Different high each day newspapers adopted the themes of revenge, defiance and bereavement.
“We should give a powerful response to Israel, something much less would make many individuals sad,” 46-year-old Hamid Hajian, who attended the funeral procession, advised Al Jazeera.
“It seemed like there may be a ceasefire deal for Gaza however that’s over now. Speaking just isn’t serving to, I hope Iran offers a stronger response than final time,” he stated, referring to the April 14 attack on Israel in retaliation for an air assault on Tehran’s consulate in Syria.
Iran’s high authorities have promised “harsh” retaliation for the killing of its “visitor”.
Haniyeh was assassinated hours after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s inauguration ceremony.
A purple flag was hoisted above the Jamkaran Mosque within the holy Shia metropolis of Qom south of Tehran to replicate the promise of blood. The Milad Tower in Tehran, an iconic constructing within the capital, was lit up in purple in a single day.
Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of workers of Iranian armed forces, prompt on Thursday that the response may come as a part of a coordinated effort with the so-called “axis of resistance”, a regional community of armed teams that Tehran helps.
Haniyeh ‘hit straight’ with missile
Khalil al-Hayya, the deputy head of Hamas within the Gaza Strip, advised reporters at a information convention in Tehran late on Wednesday that “a missile entered the room” of Haniyeh and killed him and his bodyguard in an assault that “straight” hit the ground of the constructing the place he was staying.
A picture launched late Wednesday by Sabereen Information, an outlet affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), claimed to point out the positioning of the assassination. It confirmed a multistorey constructing partly coated with a black tarp that appeared to have sustained injury to 2 flooring. Al Jazeera was unable to independently confirm the picture.
The guesthouse was within the Saadabad Palace Complicated space in north Tehran, the place overseas dignitaries are hosted and the place Iranian presidents welcome heads of state on official visits.
Iranian officers haven’t confirmed the main points of the assassination. They’ve up to now solely reported {that a} guided “airborne projectile” focused Haniyeh’s residence.
An analyst interviewed by Iranian state media stated Haniyeh was doubtless tracked since he was utilizing the identical SIM card he did outdoors Iran.
‘Issues are taking place so quick’
Because the spectre of all-out warfare continues to creep over the region, some in Iran are additionally involved in regards to the battle increasing.
“I hope it gained’t escalate a lot additional and I consider we’re nonetheless not on the level of direct warfare, however quite a lot of it may depend upon Iran’s response as properly,” stated a 24-year-old lady in Tehran who requested to not be named.
“If Iran’s assault kills Israelis, then it’s harmful, as a result of the Israelis are bloodthirsty,” she advised Al Jazeera.
Israel has not provided any touch upon the assassination, however after the October 7 incursion into southern Israel, which was led by the group and through which 1,139 folks have been killed, Israeli officers promised to kill Haniyeh and different Hamas leaders as a part of a acknowledged purpose to crush the group.
The US, which has stated it had no data of the assault on Haniyeh, has reportedly urged Iran, through intermediaries, towards putting at Israel, one thing Iran has rejected emphatically.
In the meantime, markets in Tehran initially reacted with concern.
The inventory market skilled a fall on Wednesday, with the benchmark index of the Tehran alternate ending 2 p.c decrease than a day earlier as Iran headed into the weekend.
The nationwide forex, the rial, additionally slipped by about 3 p.c to face above the 600,000-mark for every US greenback.
However after years of weathering turbulence starting from US sanctions to fears of warfare, the markets usually are not anticipated to be shaken up a lot additional. That might all change, although, if an all-out battle takes maintain.
Ali, a 31-year-old information analyst from the capital, doesn’t count on such a state of affairs.
“Issues are taking place so quick, simply this yr we’ve been via stuff that some may not expertise in a lifetime. However I feel Iran and Israel will most likely hit some army targets and keep away from wider warfare.”