Tehran, Iran - March 26, 2024

Hamas Politburo Chief Ismail Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards have been assassinated in the Iranian capital of Tehran, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) confirmed on Wednesday.

Haniyeh and his bodyguard were killed early Wednesday when their residence in Tehran was hit, according to a statement published on the IRGC's official news outlet Sepah News.

The statement said the attack was under investigation and the results would be announced later.

The Islamic Hamas movement confirmed the death of its leader, saying Haniyeh was assassinated by an Israeli attack in Iran.

In a press statement, Hamas said that it "mourns to the Palestinian people, the Arab and Islamic nation, and the free people of the world," after their leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an Israeli raid on his residence in Tehran.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei issued a statement to offer his condolences on the assassination of Haniyeh. He said to the Palestinian people and the resistance that the Israeli regime assassinated Iran's guest in the territory of Iran, which will bring revenge for itself.

Tehran considered the revenge its duty, as Haniyeh was assassinated in Iran, he added.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday also released a statement on his social media account in response to the assassination.

Pezeshkian said that the assassination on Haniyeh has made the ties between Iran and Palestine stronger than ever, and that the path of resistance and defense of the oppressed Palestinian people will continue and will be more determined than ever before.

He stressed that Iran will defend its territorial integrity and national honor and will make Israel regret its cowardly actions.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani said on Wednesday the "martyrdom" of Hamas Politburo Chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran will strengthen Iran's "deep and unbreakable" bond with Palestine and the resistance.

He made the remarks in a statement released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry while extending condolences to Hamas as well as the Palestinian people and resistance groups over Haniyeh's death earlier in the day.

Kanaani said investigations into the incident's dimensions and details were being continued by Iran's relevant entities and authorities, stressing that the "blood of this indefatigable fighter," who spent his life working towards the liberation of Palestinians from Israelis, "will never be wasted."

The IRGC said in another statement that Iran and the resistance forces will make a harsh and extensive response to the assassination.

Haniyeh was in Tehran to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday.

He was also expected to discuss with the Iranian president the political and field developments related to the Palestine-Israel conflict in the Gaza Strip, according to a source close to Hamas.

The Israeli army has made no comment on the issue yet.

Since Oct. 7 last year, Israel has been launching a large-scale strike on Hamas.

According to Gaza health authorities, the Israeli offensive has led to the killing of over 39,400 Palestinians in the enclave, while the U.N. estimated that nearly 2 million people there have been displaced.

Shotlist:
Tehran, Iran - March 26, 2024:
1. Various of Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) leader Ismail Haniyeh during visit to Iran;
Beijing, China - July 31, 2024
2. Screenshot of summary of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's statement on Iran International website;
3. Screenshot of summary of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's statement on Iran International website;
4. Screenshot of summary of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)'s statement on Iran International website;
5. Screenshot of Iranian Foreign Ministry's statement on its website;
Tehran, Iran - April 2, 2024
6. Various of national flags of Iran, traffic.

[Restriction - No access Chinese mainland/Al-Arabiya/Persian language TV Stations outside Iran. Strictly No Access BBC Persian/VOA Persian/Manoto TV/Iran International TV, No access Chinese mainland)