August 6, 2024

Iran and the U.S. have both said they don't want tensions in the Middle East to escalate after Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in a suspected Israeli attack in Tehran, but recent developments from Lebanon to Iraq have further destabilized the region.

"Iran seeks to establish stability in the region, but this will only come with punishing the aggressor and creating deterrence against the adventurism of the Zionist regime (Israel)," said Nasser Kanaani, Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson, on Monday, adding that action from Tehran was inevitable.

Tehran and Iran-aligned groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah have accused Israel of killing Haniyeh on July 31 in the Iranian capital. His death was one in a series of killings of senior Hamas figures as the war in Gaza between Hamas and Israel nears its 11th month.

Read more: