Thousands of mourners gathered in Tehran to pay their respects to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in an attack blamed on Israel. As Iran vows to avenge his death, the funeral procession was marked by calls for retaliation and banners honoring Haniyeh and other slain figures. The funeral procession saw a show of solidarity with flags of Palestinian and Hezbollah flags.
The funeral comes as tensions escalate, with Iran promising a ‘harsh’ response for the killing of their ‘guest’. The chief of staff of Iranian armed forces hinted at coordinated retaliation with allied groups in the region. Haniyeh’s deputy revealed that he was killed by a missile strike that targeted his residence in Tehran.
While Israel has not commented on the assassination, fears of escalation loom large in the region. Concerns about the impact of conflict on Iranian markets were evident as the stock market experienced a decline and the national currency weakened. However, experts believe that the markets can weather the storm unless a full-scale war breaks out.
Despite the uncertainty, many like 46-year-old Hamid Hajian, who attended the funeral procession, are calling for a strong response to Israel. Meanwhile, some in Iran are hoping to avoid direct conflict and are wary of the repercussions of a potential war with Israel. With tensions running high and the specter of war looming, the region remains on edge as Iran prepares to retaliate and the international community watches closely.
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