Iran's Khamenei Israel “punitive” order is carried out: IRGC

A senior Iranian government official has stated that Hamas' retaliation for the murder of Ismail Haneh will be carried out “in the best possible way.”

The deputy commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated that Iran would implement Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's order to “severely punish” Israel in the case where Hamas leader Ismail Hanye was assassinated in Tehran.

“The Supreme Leader's orders to severely punish Israel and retaliate against the blood of the martyr Ismail Hanye are clear and unequivocal.

Hamas's political director Hanye (62) was killed in July after attending the swearing-in ceremony of President Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran, the capital of Iran.

Hamas and Iran have blamed Israel for killing Hanye, but the Israeli government has neither affirmed nor denied responsibility.

Since then, Tehran has promised retaliation against Israel. Israel has a history of assassinating enemies throughout the region, including Iran.

White House National Security Press Secretary John Kirby was questioned by reporters about how to respond to Iran's remarks and stated that the United States has a lot of military power in the region and is prepared to protect Israel.

“When we hear such statements, we have to take them seriously, and we actually do,” Kirby's press secretary said on Friday.

Amid growing concerns about the intensification of confrontation between Israel and Iran, the US military announced the deployment of additional resources to the Middle East, including aircraft carriers, last week.

However, Western countries, starting with the United States, are also calling for non-escalation. On Thursday, the United States, Qatar and Egypt issued a joint statement urging Israel and Hamas to resume talks aimed at a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.

Al Jazeera's senior political analyst Marwan Bishara said America is close to the November election and does not want regional escalation.

“The fact that Washington, along with other intermediaries, is backing the Gaza cease-fire talks is a sign that they want to put as much pressure on Iran as possible and delay attacks on Israel,” he said.

Bishara added, however, that Prime Minister Netanyahu's chances of responding to a cease-fire “are almost always zero.”

According to Mr. Bishara, the Hamas side wants real guarantees that the war will not continue, that reconstruction will be permitted, and that Israeli soldiers will withdraw from the enclave.

If the cease-fire in Gaza is realized, it is also unclear whether Iran will stop responding to the assassination of Hanye.

On Wednesday, Hamas chose Hanye's top official, Yaya Singwal, to replace Hanye.

Abu Obeida, a spokesman for Hamas armed groups, said the Kassam Brigade supports Shinwar and is “fully prepared to implement his decision.”

In a brief statement on Friday, Obeida said nominating Shinhwal as the group's new political head is proof that Hamas is “still alive and strong.”

Al Jazeera reporter Hamda Salhout, who reported from Amman in Jordan, pointed out that the possibility of resuming cease-fire negotiations would be the first round of negotiations where Shinwal acts as leader of Hamas. It is unclear how Singhwal, who is wanted by Israel and remains in an unknown location in Gaza, can convey his message to mediators.

Mr. Salhut further added that Mr. Netanyahu “himself is regarded as a hardliner, and he has announced a list of matters that cannot be negotiated for mediation.”

“So while we still don't know what the outcome of these talks will be, it is certain that many tensions are rising across the region where countries such as the United States are trying to calm by stating that a cease-fire agreement in Gaza may promote regional stability,” he said.