Interview with ILNA News Agency, August 3, 2024 -
The interview was in Persian and the translation below was done by Ai.
Sasan Karimi, an international affairs analyst, in an interview with an ILNA reporter, said in assessing the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh and how this incident occurred: This incident had two aspects, the assassination of Mr. Haniyeh and the fact that this assassination was inside the borders of Iran. That is, it was both a completely terrorist act and an attack on our country's soil. In both cases, of course, Iran is right, but the fact that this happened inside the borders of Iran increases Iran's involvement in the matter. With this act, Israel assassinated an important leader like Ismail Haniyeh and set the ceasefire process on fire, which was both in line with Netanyahu's personal interests and an attack on the Islamic Republic of Iran. Especially in the current crisis, Israel has tried to compensate for the October 7 attack and Operation True Promise with such an act. When confronting Israel, one must pay attention to the insidious and thieving actions that are the method of this regime. Although it is harmful to us, in general, this behavior of the actors is weak and cowardly. Of course, the relevant matters in the fields of intelligence, security, and possible infiltration and espionage should be examined in depth, considering the way in which the terror operation was carried out, which will naturally be done by the responsible agencies.
In response to the question of what your prediction is for the situation in the region and what will happen, Karimi said: As mentioned, the ceasefire and prisoner exchange process was set on fire. As we saw, Mr. Wali Nasr also said that this process has been destroyed for the foreseeable future. At the same time, I think that the conflict with Lebanon and the blow to Hezbollah will not begin in the coming weeks by the Zionist regime. In fact, it is as if Netanyahu has spilled his poison. It should be analyzed whether these threats to attack Lebanon were basically a hoax or if they were real and were replaced by such an operation.
This foreign policy analyst said about Iran's response to the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh: Of course, Iran's response needs to be planned, given the important juncture we are in in terms of forming a new government, and a decision will probably be made at high levels in this regard. However, Hamas and other resistance activists will reserve their right to retaliate for the assassination of martyr Haniyeh, and Iran will consider aggression and assassination on its territory as a basis for its claim to rights. However, when, in what format, and with what scope and form it will exercise this right will naturally depend on all aspects.
In response to the question of what measures the United States will take in this regard, Karimi said: In any case, considering that it is an election year, the United States does not want the flames of war to spread in the Middle East or its forces to clash. On the other hand, despite denying responsibility for the attack and claiming to be unaware of it, the US Congress's reaction during Netanyahu's visit to Washington cannot be ignored as a catalyst and instigator for such actions. Such support and dozens of encouragements in Congress have given him self-confidence and trust in US support for such an act.
He added: The US is now trying to call on Iran and the resistance forces to exercise restraint, but at the same time, Washington must respond that if, after every Israeli act of aggression and terrorism, the US is supposed to be the mediator in calling for restraint and, after every blow to the Zionist regime, fully defend Tel Aviv from retaliation, every conflict will always end in Israel's favor and after its action or reaction, and this will further question the ability of an activist like the US to call for restraint in such a scene. The US government should think about the state of Israel's influence in Washington and the costs Israel imposes on the US, especially in matters of legitimacy. The spark for this must have been the anti-Israel student protests in America.
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