Tehran [Iran], August 10: Iran will carry out Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei 's order to "severely punish" Israel for the assassination of a Hamas leader in Tehran, Iranian media has quoted a deputy commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as saying.
"The supreme leader's orders regarding severe punishment of Israel and revenge for Ismail Haniyeh are clear and specific... and they will be carried out in the best possible way," Ali Fadavi said.
Iran and Hamas forces in the Gaza Strip accused Israel of carrying out the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on July 31. Israel has neither accepted responsibility nor denied the incident.
When asked by reporters to comment on Mr. Fadavi's statement, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the US is ready to protect Israel with many resources in the region.
"When we hear words like that, we have to take it seriously," Reuters quoted Mr. Kirby as saying.
Iran's mission to the United Nations said Tehran's response to the assassination of Mr Haniyeh was "a completely unrelated issue" to efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza.
"However, we hope that our response will be timely and implemented in a manner that does not jeopardize the ceasefire that may be achieved," the mission said when asked if Iran could delay retaliation until after Gaza ceasefire talks next week.
The United States, Egypt and Qatar on August 8 called on Israel and Hamas to meet for talks on August 15 in Doha (Qatar) or Cairo (Egypt) to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and a deal to release hostages. Israel said it would attend, while a Hamas official told Reuters the group was "studying" a new proposal for talks.
"Our priority is to establish a lasting ceasefire in Gaza. Any agreement accepted by Hamas will be recognized by us," Iran's mission to the United Nations said.
In another development, the US State Department said the country will support Israel with $3.5 billion to buy US weapons and military equipment. The money is expected to be disbursed in the next few months.
A State Department spokesperson said the agency has notified Congress that the administration intends to release billions of dollars in foreign military funding to Israel. CNN previously reported the release, saying the money came from a $14 billion supplemental funding bill for Israel passed by Congress in April.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper