Iran: Israel assassinated Haniyeh with US support.. and Saudi Arabia comments

Tehran prepares to respond to Israel and Washington strengthens its armament in the region

Acting Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani announced in a statement on Wednesday that his country's response to the killing of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran will happen "at the right time and in the right manner."

During a meeting of foreign ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation countries in Jeddah, he stated that "now, in the absence of any appropriate action by the Security Council against Israel's attacks and violations, Iran has no choice but to use its self-right to legitimate defense" against Israel and "such action will be taken at the necessary and appropriate time," according to his speech.

Iran accuses America of assassinating Haniyeh

He also added that "the Security Council should pave the way for the trial and punishment of the leaders and perpetrators" of Haniyeh's assassination, adding that at the same time "America's responsibility as the main supporter of Israel" in committing the operation should not be ignored.

Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy spoke by phone with Ali Bagheri Kani, where Lammy warned that any Iranian aggression would have devastating consequences for the region.

He also urged Iran and all parties to calm down immediately and urgently, noting that escalation is in no one's interest.

Iran prepares to respond

This comes as the Iranian news agency "IRNA" reported earlier on Wednesday that the air defense sites and platforms of the eastern region of the Iranian army had been equipped with radar systems, missiles and local drones in the presence of the commander of the air defense forces, Ali Reza Sabahi Fard.

At the same time, Iran reiterated, through the army commander, its confirmation that the response to the assassination of Haniyeh is inevitable, and that Israel's assassinations will not pass like this.

While leaks have spread from a number of American officials who expected Iran's response to be limited.

The leader of the Lebanese Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, had reiterated on Tuesday that there is no escape from responding, whether to the assassination of the prominent leader in the party's ranks, Fouad Shukr, or Haniyeh.

It is noteworthy that in recent days, fears of a military escalation between Iran and its allies on the one hand, and Israel on the other, have increased, after the assassination of Haniyeh in Tehran, and the assassination of Shukr in an Israeli strike in the southern suburbs of Beirut last week.

With the escalation of fears, the United States announced the strengthening of its military system in the region, and the deployment of more warships and fighter jets to protect its soldiers and its ally Israel, while international parties are working at several levels to avoid escalation in the region.

Saudi Foreign Ministry Comments

Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Eng. Walid Al-Khuraiji said that the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the former Palestinian Prime Minister, during his visit to Tehran last week is a flagrant violation of the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national security of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as well as international law and the United Nations Charter, and constitutes a threat to regional peace and security.

The Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister added in his speech at the meeting that his country's government, based on its firm positions towards the Palestinian cause, condemns the attacks carried out by the Israeli occupation forces on civilians, and rejects any attack on the sovereignty of states or interference in the internal affairs of any state, in accordance with international conventions and the Charter of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

Eng. Walid Al-Khuraiji expressed Saudi Arabia's deep concern over the escalation of violations by the Israeli occupation army, which resulted in large numbers of martyrs and wounded among civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and shortages of food, medicine, and fuel, and the complete depletion of the health sectors under the pressure of the increasing numbers of patients as well as displaced civilians seeking shelter.

The Deputy Foreign Minister renewed his country's call to the international community to take action The actor to play his role in holding the Israeli occupation forces fully responsible for these crimes and violations and their negative consequences on the chances of reviving the peace process, and to stop the attacks and violations against the brotherly Palestinian people. The Kingdom also supports all efforts aimed at ending the occupation of the Palestinian territories and reaching a comprehensive solution that enables the Palestinian people to establish their independent Palestinian state, in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.

This came during the participation of Deputy Foreign Minister, Eng. Walid Al-Khuraiji, on behalf of Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, in the extraordinary meeting of the Executive Committee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Jeddah.