WANA (Aug 21) –The Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations announced regarding the timing of Tehran’s response to the Israeli regime following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’ political bureau: “Iran’s response will likely come at a time, under conditions, and in a manner that the regime least expects.”

 

On Tuesday night, the Permanent Mission of Iran to the UN responded to a question about whether Iran had deliberately delayed its response to Israel until the outcome of the ceasefire talks in Gaza was clear, saying: “Iran’s response must achieve two specific results. First, it must punish the aggressor for the assassination and violation of Iran’s national sovereignty. Second, it must enhance Iran’s deterrent power and cause severe regret to the regime, preventing any future acts of aggression.”

 

According to The Wall Street Journal, the Iranian Mission further stated: “Moreover, Iran’s response must avoid any negative impact that could potentially affect the possible ceasefire (in Gaza). The response will likely occur at a time, under conditions, and in a manner that the regime least expects—perhaps when their eyes are on the sky and radar screens, they will be caught off guard from the ground, or perhaps it will be a combination of both.”

 

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The Doha summit in Qatar was held on Thursday and Friday, August 15-16, 2024, to resume negotiations for a ceasefire agreement in Gaza and the exchange of prisoners, with the participation of the U.S., Egypt, Qatar, and Israel.

 

The White House, in a statement as a joint communiqué by Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S., announced that the ceasefire talks in Doha were “serious and constructive” and held in a positive atmosphere, with follow-up talks scheduled for next week in Cairo, Egypt.

 

U.S. President Joe Biden also stated that he expects Iran to refrain from attacking Israel if a ceasefire agreement in Gaza is reached. The Democratic President of the United States, who is in the final months of his single term, has claimed that he will focus the remaining months of his presidency on efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East (West Asia). On August 13, he said, “I am concerned about the situation in the Middle East. Things have become difficult. We’ll see what we can do and how Iran will respond. I expect that if a ceasefire is reached in Gaza, Iran will refrain from attacking Israel.”

 

Ismail Haniyeh, head of Hamas’ political bureau and the movement’s negotiator for the ceasefire agreement, was assassinated on Wednesday morning, August 10, after arriving in Tehran to attend the inauguration ceremony of President Dr. Massoud Pezeshkian.