Iran Warns of Retaliation Over Haniyeh's Death

Iran will not stay quiet over aggression, President Masoud Pezeshkian told French counterpart Emmanuel Macron according to state media, amid fears of more regional conflict after the killing in Tehran last week of Hamas' leader.

"Iran will never remain silent in the face of aggression against its interests and security", Pezeshkian told Macron in a phone call, criticizing Israel over the 10-month Gaza war.

"If the United States and the Western countries are truly seeking to prevent war in the region, they must force this regime (Israel) to stop the genocide and attacks on Gaza and accept a ceasefire," he said, according to the media.

An emergency meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation was being held in Saudi Arabia at Iran's request to discuss the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, the former leader of Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Iran's Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani, who attended the meeting, said in a statement that Iran's response to the killing of Haniyeh will take place "at the right time and in the appropriate shape."

Tehran and Iran-aligned groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah have accused Israel of killing Haniyeh on July 31. His death was one in a series of killings of senior Hamas figures during the war.

Israeli officials have not claimed responsibility for Haniyeh's death.

Israel's ambulance service has stocked blood supplies in a fortified underground center, factories have moved out hazardous materials and municipal authorities are checking bomb shelters and water supplies as the country waits for a threatened attack from Iran and its proxies.

Meanwhile Hamas supporters in Lebanon organized a funeral for their chief, Ismail Haniyeh, one day after the movement named Yahya Sinwar as the successor.

Hamas named Sinwar as successor to Haniyeh, the group said, in a move that reinforces the radical path pursued since the Oct. 7 attack on Israel.