Iran’s top leader offers prayers at funeral of Hamas chief Haniyeh, whose death heightens potential for escalation of conflict

In Tehran, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and representatives of Palestinian militias he supports gathered to mourn over the coffins of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and his bodyguard, who were killed in an assassination believed to be carried out by Israel. The incident raised fears of a potential regional conflict. Haniyeh’s funeral service took place at Tehran University, where Khamenei offered prayers beside the coffin, while Iran’s new President Masoud Pezeshkian stood in solidarity. Subsequently, the coffins were paraded through the streets of Tehran towards Azadi Square as onlookers paid their respects by tossing flowers.
Following the ceremonies in Tehran, Haniyeh’s remains are scheduled to be transported to Qatar for burial on Friday. The Hamas leader had traveled to Tehran to attend Pezeshkian’s inauguration, where he was seen in the company of leaders from militant groups such as the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah. The assassination occurred shortly after his meeting with Khamenei, in an airstrike on a residence he was using in Tehran. Israeli authorities had previously threatened to target Haniyeh and other Hamas officials in retaliation for an attack on southern Israel that had sparked conflict in Gaza on October 7.
The relationships between Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, and other Palestinian groups have long been contentious with regards to Israel. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking from Ulaanbaatar, emphasized the importance of all parties in the Middle East refraining from actions that could heighten tensions. He stressed the necessity for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas to quell the violence and suffering in the region.
In the midst of escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, efforts have been made to prevent the situation from escalating into a full-blown war. In a recent speech during Pezeshkian’s inauguration, the new President spoke passionately in support of Palestinian rights, expressing Iran’s desire for a world where Palestinian children’s dreams are not shattered by conflict and where the people of Palestine can live free from oppression and occupation.