Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh traveled to Tehran to attend the inaugural ceremony of Iran's newly elected president, Masoud Pajeshkian. He was staying at a guesthouse operated by the Iranian military IRGC, where he was assassinated. But reports now reveal that the bomb used to kill Haniyeh was smuggled into Tehran two months earlier.
According to a report by the New York Times, the remote-controlled bomb that killed Ismail Haniyeh was placed in the same room at the Tehran guesthouse two months prior to his stay.
The report cites information from several officials, including two members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This new revelation contradicts initial reports that Haniyeh was killed in a missile strike.
Iranian officials expressed that Haniyeh's assassination in Tehran is an embarrassment for the IRGC, as it operated the guesthouse where Haniyeh and other dignitaries were staying.
Haniyeh was staying at Neshat, an IRGC compound known for hosting secret meetings and high-profile guests like Haniyeh.
How Did the Explosion Occur?
IRGC officials state that Haniyeh was killed by a remote-controlled bomb. When the explosion occurred, a portion of the guesthouse's compound wall collapsed, and windows shattered. However, the adjacent room, occupied by Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader Ziad Nakhaleh, sustained minimal damage, confirming the assassination was meticulously planned.
Source: aajtak
According to the report, local time around 2 AM, when the bomb detonated in Haniyeh's room, medical staff quickly arrived on the scene. Haniyeh was declared dead on the spot, as was his bodyguard. High-ranking Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya also arrived at the scene to identify Haniyeh’s body. Immediately afterward, IRGC Quds Force commander Ismail Qaani woke up Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to inform him about Haniyeh’s death.
A high-ranking official mentioned that planning and surveillance for such a blast would take months. Some Iranian officials admitted they were unaware of how and when someone planted the bomb in Haniyeh’s room. However, some Middle Eastern officials claim the bomb was planted roughly two months before Haniyeh’s stay.
The manner in which Haniyeh was targeted suggests the bomb was operated remotely. Similar bombs have been used by Israel's Mossad, such as in the 2020 assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.
Israel Maintains Silence on Haniyeh's Death
Iran has blamed Israel for Ismail Haniyeh’s death in Tehran. However, Israel has neither confirmed nor denied the attack. Following the assassination, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered the Iranian military to retaliate against Israel. This order came after an emergency meeting of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.
Previously, on the midnight of April 13, when Iran attacked Israel using drones and missiles, Syria and Iraq joined in. Meanwhile, the Hezbollah extremist group, supported by Iran, also launched attacks on Israeli military bases in Syria.
Following Iran's retaliation order, the Israeli military responded. Israeli Air Force Commander Major General Tomer Bar stated that the Air Force defends and attacks in all war environments. He reassured that Israel is always prepared to respond decisively to any threats. Any entity threatening Israel and its citizens will be met with a strong response, and no place is beyond their reach for a counterattack.
