Iran Holds Funeral for Slain Hamas Leader Amid Heightened Tensions

Iran held a solemn funeral for Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh on August 1, following his assassination in Tehran, which Iran blames on Israel. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is set to lead the prayers before Haniyeh’s burial in Doha. The attack, which killed Haniyeh and his bodyguard, has heightened regional tensions, already strained by the Gaza conflict.

Iran’s response includes vows of retaliation, while global leaders, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, have called for de-escalation. Amid widespread mourning and calls for revenge, the assassination threatens to disrupt ongoing truce negotiations and exacerbate the volatile situation in the Middle East.