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Rabat – Iran has stressed its determination to exercise its “legitimate” and “legal” right to defend itself against Israel for the assasination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in an attack on its soil.
“No one has the right to doubt Iran’s legal right to punish the Zionist regime,” Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanani said today.
Iran’s Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri made similar comments in a telephone conversation with Slovenia’s Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon on Sunday.
Iran “will undoubtedly exercise its legitimate and inherent right to defend its security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity with the aim of creating deterrence against the Zionist regime’s aggressive actions and ensuring continued security and stability in West Asia,” Bagheri stressed.
Haniyeh was assassinated on July 31 while he was in Tehran to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Iran’s new president. While Israel has not commented on or claimed the attack, Iran vowed retaliation and said that Israel will “receive harsh punishment in the suitable time, place, and capacity.”
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared late Sunday that Israel is “determined to stand against” Iran and its allied groups “on all fronts.”
Axios reported on Sunday night that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned that Iran and Hezbollah might retaliate against Israel within the next 24 to 48 hours. This warning has led to increased military deployments and heightened international concern about the potential for an expanded war.
Quoting its sources, the publication said that Blinken told G7 counterparts in a conference call that the US believes both Iran and Hezbollah will retaliate.
In the wake of growing instability in the region, several countries, including Ireland, the UK, the US, and France, have advised their citizens against traveling to Israel and Lebanon.
