Israel takes strongest response decision against Iran's proxies

As the Middle East teeters on the brink of a broader conflict, Iran's rhetoric has reached fever pitch, with top officials and media demanding revenge.

Five sources told Reuters that a high-level meeting has been scheduled in Tehran, drawing representatives from Iran's regional proxies. These include factions from Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen, signaling a united front under the "Axis of Resistance" banner.

Among the attendees will be figures from Hezbollah, the Houthis, and various Iraqi resistance groups, all gathering to deliberate on the nature and scale of the response to Haniyeh's killing.

According to the report, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior officials from the Revolutionary Guards are expected to lead the discussions.

"Iran and the resistance members will conduct a thorough assessment after the meeting in Tehran to find the best and most effective way to retaliate against the Zionist regime (Israel)," said a senior Iranian official, with direct knowledge of the meeting.

However, CNN reported that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken sent a message through Qatar asking the Islamic Republic not to retaliate for the assassination of Haniyeh.

According to the report, the United States has asked Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, to send messages to the Islamic Republic and Hezbollah, urging de-escalation and refraining from retaliatory actions.

The conflicting reports on the cause of Haniyeh's death have further fueled the charged atmosphere. The New York Times reported that Haniyeh was killed in a bomb explosion.

According to the report, the bomb was secretly brought into the guesthouse where Haniyeh was staying almost two months earlier.

Other media outlets reported an airstrike on Haniyeh's residence. The Fars News Agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, had written that Haniyeh was targeted with a "projectile from the air."

Amidst this confusion, Iran's leadership has not hesitated to voice its intent to retaliate. "The Zionist regime will undoubtedly regret it," stated General Mohammad Baqeri, Chief of Staff of Iran's Armed Forces, highlighting the Iran's determination to exact a reprisal. Bagheri also mentioned that Tehran is currently considering the appropriate response to avenge the assassination of Haniyeh.

The escalation comes on the heels of another Israeli strike, which targeted a senior Hezbollah commander near Beirut, killed just hours before Haniyeh. The dual assassinations have exacerbated fears of a broader conflict encompassing Israel, Iran, and their respective allies.

Israeli officials, meanwhile, have remained tight-lipped, neither confirming nor denying involvement in Haniyeh's assassination. However, Israeli air force chief Tomer Bar reiterated Israel's readiness to defend its citizens.

"We are also strongly prepared in defense. Hundreds of aerial defense soldiers, along with air control personnel, are stationed across the country with the best systems, ready to carry out their mission," said Bar.

The funeral for Haniyeh in Tehran on Thursday, attended by significant figures from Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and other Iran-funded militant groups, further underscored the deep ties between Iran and its proxy forces.

Hamas's armed wing declared that the assassination of Haniyeh would "take the battle to new dimensions and have major repercussions."

An Iraqi militia local commander stated, "Iran asked key commanders of the Iraqi resistance groups to travel to Tehran on Wednesday to attend an urgent meeting to discuss retaliation against recent Israeli strikes, including in Lebanon and Iran and the US strike in Iraq." The US had intercepted an attack en-route to Israel.

Another source from the militia indicated that these commanders went to Tehran not only to attend Haniyeh's funeral but also to participate in a "top urgent meeting" aimed at planning the next steps for retaliating against Israel and the United States.

On Thursday, Iranian President Pezeshkian also reaffirmed support for Palestine. Pezeshkian conveyed to Hamas deputy chief in Gaza, Khalil Al-Hayya, that both his government and the leader of the Islamic Republic "will not waver in their support for Palestine."

He further emphasized, "We will continue to support and back the axis of resistance with even greater determination."

The "axis of resistance," a term coined by the Islamic Republic, refers to its coalition of proxy forces in the region. This coalition includes Palestinian militant groups, the Syrian regime, the Lebanese militant organization Hezbollah, and various other factions.

Ali Akbar Ahmadian, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, stated to Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency, "All fronts of the resistance will take revenge for Haniyeh's blood."

Abdollah Ganji, the former editor of the IRGC-linked Javan newspaper, posted on X that the Islamic Republic has officially warned Arab countries in the region that if they allow Israel to use their airspace, they will become a "legitimate target."

Some media outlets attributed this warning to Ali Bagheri Kani, the acting foreign minister, who emphasized, "This action will undoubtedly take place. A range of measures must be implemented, and the Zionists will inevitably come to regret it."

On April 13, Iran launched over 350 missiles and drones toward Israel, claiming it was a response to Israel's alleged deadly strike on Iran's embassy compound in Damascus on April 1. However, almost all of the barrage was intercepted and shot down.

Former senior Revolutionary Guards Commander Esmail Kosari told state TV that "Iran's response to the assassination of Martyr Haniyeh will be stronger than before."

At Haniyeh's funeral, Amir-Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi, head of the Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs, emphasized the need for effective deterrence through proportionate actions. He remarked, "When a Hamas leader is martyred, one of the main leaders of Israel must be eliminated."

Iran's media landscape has also been vocal, with publications like Kayhan, which is closely aligned with the Supreme Leader, calling for a robust response. The newspaper suggested that Iran and its allies should consider striking American assets, implicating the United States as a complicit actor in the assassination due to its support for Israel.

"Now, with just a glance around, one can see dozens of strategic hubs and American intelligence and military centers that are easily within our reach. Ain al-Assad was one example. The base of the US Fifth Fleet on the shores of Bahrain is another example. American vessels carrying fuel and goods in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman could also be potential targets," added Kayhan.

Amid the developments, there are calls within Iran for a reassessment of security protocols. Criticism has surfaced regarding the apparent lapses that allowed such a high-profile assassination to occur on Iranian soil. Conservative voices like Jomhouri-e Eslami daily have demanded a thorough purge within the country's intelligence and security agencies to prevent future breaches and ensure accountability.

"These lies are being propagated while the results of the experts' investigation indicate that Haniyeh was struck by a projectile, in which involvement of the Zionist regime cannot be ruled out,” read a report by Fars news agency.

Citing five Middle Eastern officials, the New York Times report claimed the bomb was hidden in the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps-run guesthouse in the Neshat compound in northern Tehran, the report states.

The newspaper detailed that the explosion, which occurred around 2am local time, was triggered remotely and caused significant damage. It shook the building, shattered windows, and partially collapsed an exterior wall.

It is not clear who the Middle Eastern officials are, and if they are from countries friendly with Iran, that would have an interest in offering a scenario less damaging to the IRGC or the Iranian regime. Some Iranian journalists and activists shed doubt on the veracity of the report, saying that the Iranian regime does not want to appear totally unable to defend itself against foreign missile or drone attacks. However, the Fars News insistence that a projectile hit the building appears to weaken this argument.

The assassination of Haniyeh, who was in Tehran for the inauguration of President Masoud Pezeshkian, has sparked speculation about the method of his killing.

Earlier, most observers had said that the killing was done by a projectile hitting the specific part of the building where Haniyeh was spending the night.

However, the NYT article says the meticulous planning behind the attack was such that, despite the proximity of Ziyad al-Nakhalah, leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, who was staying next door, his room sustained minimal damage, as claimed by two Iranian officials.

Reports, including those from Iranian state media, suggest he may have been targeted by a drone or a precision-guided missile, with special forces in Tehran directing the strike from nearby windows.

Another theory posited by Iranian media suggests that spyware was installed on his phone, enabling his location to be monitored and ultimately leading to his tracking and assassination.

To date, Iranian officials have not commented on the specific circumstances surrounding the death of the figure who had been the key bridge between Iran and Hamas since 2017.

The report lacks several key explanations, including why Haniyeh, who had stayed at the guesthouse multiple times during his visits to Tehran, was targeted on this occasion without clarifying the specific reasons for the timing of the attack.

The NYT's report contradicts statements by Pezeshkian’s supporters who have insisted that the attack was aimed at his new administration. If the bomb was placed two months ago, at that time Pezeshkian was not even a presidential candidate.

‘Reformist’ journalist and political activist Ahmad Zeidabadi stated on Thursday that the "primary objective" of the attack on Haniyeh was to "destabilize and potentially paralyze the Pezeshkian government from the outset."

Regardless of the method employed, it is evident that even Iranian officials acknowledge a significant failure on Iran's part to protect Haniyeh, reflecting a profound lapse in adequate security.

According to three Iranian officials speaking to the New York Times, such a breach "was a catastrophic failure of intelligence and security for Iran and a tremendous embarrassment for the Guards, which use the compound for retreats, secret meetings, and housing prominent guests like Mr. Haniyeh."

Some officials such as IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani’s deputy and former MP, Mansour Haqiqatpour, have even suggested that a purge within the security forces is necessary.

He condemned the assassination for the impact it will have on Iran's security apparatus, telling Rouydad 24 that the killing "casts a negative light on Iran's security officials". He called for accountability among certain political, military, and security officials, suggesting that "some may need to be dismissed."

The conservative Iranian newspaper Jomhouri-e Eslami also criticized the security forces for failing to eliminate infiltrators within their ranks.

The article condemned the focus on "getting revenge" rather than preventing terror acts and recommended a "comprehensive purge of intelligence and security agencies" to safeguard against such assassinations.

He woke up to the news of the killing of Hamas's Ismail Haniyeh, and started his official business with three days of mourning for the Palestinian figure.

He couldn't even attend his first cabinet meeting, which was held with the previous government's ministers still in office until his own cabinet takes over in two to three weeks. The meeting was led by his much-criticized Vice President, Mohammad Reza Aref, who began the session with a neutral and formulaic speech, carefully avoiding any strong statements. This contrasted with other Iranian officials who vowed revenge against Israel for Haniyeh's death.

A series of other news followed. As the Tehran Stock Exchange experienced one of its biggest crashes, Aref told reporters that the government would "inject funds" into the stock market from the National Development Fund, effectively Iran's Foreign Currency Reserve. Few governments would take such a step, but the Islamic Republic, known for its lack of a clear economic policy, is one of them.

Simultaneously, the exchange rate for the US dollar, which had been around 570,000 rials per dollar the previous week, saw one of its biggest jumps in months, rising to over 610,000 rials per dollar by Wednesday morning. Iranian economist Ali Sarzaim attributed the increase not to economic factors but to the market's reaction to Haniyeh's death.

However, the biggest impact of the news appears to be Iranian's disillusionment about the Islamic Republic's security. Hundreds of tweets during the early hours of the morning contained sarcasm about Iranian officials' constant boasting about the country's security. Iranian journalist Sara Massoumi noted that the attack undermined the reputation and influence of Iranian intelligence.

Some Iranians on social media mocked the government, suggesting it should focus more on protecting its high-level guests rather than sending security forces to the streets to beat and arrest women who defy the compulsory hijab.

Revelations about Iran's intelligence vulnerabilities surfaced just days after Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib claimed that his ministry had dismantled Israel's influence network within the country. Earlier, former Intelligence Minister Ali Yunesi had warned that even Iran's highest-ranking officials are not immune to Israeli attacks.

Amid calls from many Iranians for the new president to protect and uphold citizens' rights, a popular singer whose song Baraye [For] went viral during the Mahsa uprising in 2022, and who was briefly jailed at the time, tweeted that he has been summoned to prison to serve a 3.5-year sentence—simply for singing the song.

In another development, a report on the conservative Ghatreh News website, as well as numerous social media reports from Lahijan, a city in Gilan Province in northern Iran, say that the city's Friday prayers leader Javad Soleimani, was killed by multiple stabs during what has been characterized as "a personal matter." However, according to the official website of the Qom Seminary, the cleric was "assassinated."

Pezeshkian’s second day in office on Thursday was not much better than his first, as he attended the symbolic funeral of Haniyeh in Tehran University, where Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei recited prayers, as he nervously watched the skies.

The delegation was wearing white jackets with black clothing, the women all with compulsory hijabs with film and television actor Behrang Alavi posting on Instagram: "Wishing success for the injections team."

Public figures and media outlets have not held back in their criticism.

State TV host Elmira Sharifimoghaddam said on air, "The Iranian team looked as if a team of doctors and nurses had gone to Paris."

The moderate-conservative website, Asr-e Iran, highlighted the consistently poor choice of attire for the delegations as they travel to the Games over the years, controversy around uniforms nothing new for Iran.

"Since the London 2012 Olympics, Rio de Janeiro 2016, Tokyo 2021, and now in Paris, the issue of strange, bizarre, and ugly clothing designs has been a consistent source of embarrassment," they wrote.

"It is astonishing that the Ministry of Sports and the National Olympic Committee have not been able to provide an elegant and dignified outfit for the Iranian team for the Paris Olympics in the past three years."

Adding fuel to the fire, there was no official unveiling ceremony for the uniforms before the team's departure, a shift from tradition likely intended to avoid immediate backlash.

The Ministry of Sports and the National Olympic Committee have faced intense scrutiny, with many questioning the transparency and rationale behind their choices.

Asieh Amini, a social issues analyst, told Iran International that in 2021, 31 billion rials (over $160,000 at the time) were allocated for athletes' clothing, “but this year, we don't even know how much has been spent", she said, as the country faces its worst ever economic crisis.

She added, "These uniforms have no connection to a country with various ethnic groups and their beautiful traditional clothes. How is it possible that, with all our ethnicities, traditions, and high potential, what we show to the world is so tasteless?”

Asr-e Iran's review added, "The Olympics is the most important sporting event for all athletes worldwide. With these ugly outfits, we completely destroy our athletes' morale and confidence from the opening day, and then we expect them to bring home the best medals."

Some have also shared AI-generated photos depicting how the Iran team uniforms might have looked if designed by AI.

Mahsa Javar, a national rowing athlete and brand ambassador for the Iranian sports delegation's clothing, defended the designs in a controversial social media post, calling the critics "uncultured."

Her comments only intensified the backlash, with many advising her to focus on her performance rather than engage in the controversy. However, she later apologized for her comments, stating that the athletes, like others, are not happy with the uniform.

The 2016 Rio Olympics saw a major uproar over the bizarre design and color choices, leading to a complete redesign. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics followed a similar pattern, with athletes wearing turquoise blue attire and white masks, which were widely criticized, none of which bore the colors of Iran's national flag.

Prominent sports website Varzesh-3 vented frustration saying the opportunity on the Olympics' "grand stage" has been missed, once again. "Most other countries use this opportunity to showcase the most beautiful aspects of their culture and civilization. We, however, consistently fail to present a respectable image," she said.

Allegations of cronyism have also surfaced. Mojtaba Pourbakhsh, a former TV host, revealed that the design contract initially awarded to the Majid brand or Merooj Inc. was abruptly handed over to the Hectaton brand, owned by Ali Aajdarkosh.

The Majid brand is owned by the Abdolmajid Saedifar family. They operate under a company named Majid Merooj Iranians, which was established in 2010. The quality of the national football, wrestling, and volleyball team uniforms designed by the company has faced criticism in recent years.

The Hectaton brand is also owned by a company named Pishgaman Danily Aras. This company was established in 2012 and, like Majid Merooj Iranians, is family-operated under the ownership of Ali Ajdarkosh.

Ajdarkosh's close ties with sports officials and athletes, along with his sponsorship of various events, have raised questions about the integrity of the selection process.

According to Pourbakhsh, the National Olympic Committee, whose secretary has been Manaf Hashemi since 2022, initially signed a multi-billion contract with the Majid brand for the design and production of the uniforms. However, the project was later handed over to the Ajdarkosh family.

Another official responsible for selecting the Iranian team's outfits for the Olympics is Mahmoud Khosravi Vafa. Khosravi Vafa has been the President of the National Olympic Committee since September 2022. In 1980 and 1981, he served as a bodyguard for Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, for a short period.

Rouydad 24 reported that the Iranian government's direct intervention and preference for close associates in selecting the clothing designer bypassed usual formalities, leading to the current debacle.

"This time, everything happened behind the scenes," said Majid Nami, a member of the Clothing Union. "The result is a disgraceful representation of our culture and heritage."

“Cronyism and connections are two factors that prevent transparency in the procurement of uniforms for national and Olympic teams. If high-level decision-making and the Iranian government were free from cronyism and connections, there would be no other reason to obscure this process," said Amini in her interview with Iran International.

She also called the industry a "mafia", saying, "When you have this mafia behind all your operations and decisions, it is definitely necessary to be transparent. But to avoid accountability, you are forced to conceal everything and keep it shrouded in ambiguity. And then, when it's all over, they say it's too late to do anything about it,” she said.

“The issue is that this lack of accountability and transparency has become routine in the Islamic Republic. Corruption has essentially become a standard practice among the managers of the Islamic Republic,” she added.

The intense security measures, including a declared no-fly zone on Thursday, underscored the Iranian government's heightened concerns over potential threats during the ceremony after the assassination of the Hamas political chief on Iran's watch. He will be buried in Qatar, his main host country, reportedly on Friday.

It reveals the deepening vulnerability of the Islamic Republic’s security apparatus, now evidently struggling to shield itself from external and internal threats alike after what is believed to have been a precision missile killed the militant in the heart of Tehran.

From 6am to 12 noon on Thursday, the airspace over central Tehran, including the area around Tehran University and the residence of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, was off-limits to all air traffic, including drones.

Despite official denials from Reza Kargar of the Iran Airports Company about any impact on commercial flights, the restrictions reflected a clear state of alert.

At the funeral, significant figures such as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf paid their respects to the man who had personally cultivated close ties to Iran and the Supreme Leader since becoming the political leader in 2017.

Ghalibaf, addressing the assembled mourners, described the assassination of Haniyeh as a "strategic mistake" by Israel, warning that Israel would "pay a hefty price for this."

"Their second mistake," he continued, "is ignoring our leader's words that the era of hit-and-run is over."

Khamenei's presence to lead prayers over Haniyeh’s body was marked by notable moments of tension. A video from the event, widely shared on social media, shows Khamenei casting anxious glances around.

The assassination of Haniyeh, coming on the heels of other high-profile attacks, has exposed the fragility of Iran's internal security.

Ahmad Alavi, an economist and analyst, blamed "corruption and inefficiencies within Iran's security apparatus" which has left it exposed to sophisticated foreign intelligence operations. "When resources are misused and oversight is weakened, it's inevitable that foreign agents can exploit these weaknesses," Alavi said.

The New York Times, citing Iranian sources, reported that Khamenei has instructed the Supreme National Security Council to respond directly from Iranian soil, with military plans targeting Tel Aviv and Haifa.

Journalist Jamshid Barzegar says Iran's responses so far have not seen a match against Israel and its ally, the US. In April, when Iran launched over 350 rockets, drones and missiles towards Israel, the first direct attack on the Jewish state, the majority were intercepted by Israel and a US-led coalition.

"While Israel and the US have delivered significant blows to the Islamic Republic's human and material resources, Iran has struggled to respond with equivalent actions," he said.

He pointed out that, unlike Israel and the US targeting key figures, Iran has attempted to target Israeli civilians or businesspeople abroad, often unsuccessfully, leading to international embarrassments with dozens of plots foiled in countries including Greece, Azerbaijan and Belgium.