Mohsen Rezaei Says Iran's Reaction to Haniyeh's Assassination Will Be 'Very Calculated'

Mohsen Rezaei, former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, emphasized in an interview with CNN that Iran's reaction to the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of the extremist group Hamas, will be 'very calculated.' Leaders of the Islamic Republic hold Israel responsible for the assassination of Haniyeh, who traveled to Tehran to attend the inauguration of the new Iranian President, Masoud Pezeshkian, and have promised retaliation, raising concerns about the escalation of war in the Middle East. More than three weeks after Haniyeh's assassination in Tehran and the diplomatic efforts of the United States and some regional countries like Jordan to prevent a possible military response from Iran, IRGC officials have noted that Haniyeh's 'blood vengeance' remains strong, and the wait for Iran's reaction to this act may simply be prolonged. Meanwhile, CNN conducted an interview with Mohsen Rezaei on August 30, discussing regional tensions and Iran's potential response to Israel. Rezaei predicted that 'a ceasefire must soon be established in Gaza.' He stated, 'The U.S. and Israel should not repeat their mistakes. If the United States had stopped Israel and (Benjamin) Netanyahu in the early weeks of the Gaza war, the war would not have continued. Therefore, the main factor prolonging the war is the U.S. and Israel. The longer this war lasts, the more damage it will cause to the United States.' Rezaei also discussed Iran's response to Israel, saying, 'We have assessed the possible consequences. We will not allow Netanyahu, who is now sinking in a quagmire, to save himself. Iran's actions will be very calculated.' Ceasefire negotiations in Gaza resumed last week in Doha, Qatar. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on Monday that Israel has accepted mediators' proposals to reduce disputes in ceasefire negotiations, with the next crucial step being Hamas's agreement. Earlier reports indicated that Iran would refrain from attacking Israel if a ceasefire agreement was reached in Gaza, but Iran's UN delegation stated that Tehran's retaliatory response 'is not related to the Gaza ceasefire.'