Prince Reza Pahlavi: Ismail Haniyeh was a major criminal who should never have set foot in Iran

Prince Reza Pahlavi reacted to the killing of the head of Hamas's political office in Tehran, calling him a "major criminal" and stating that "Ismail Haniyeh should never have set foot on Iranian soil," with his presence being "an insult to our country and nation." On Wednesday, August 1, the prince wrote on the social media platform "X": "The cost of this major criminal's terrorism against innocent Israelis and Palestinians was funded by the Iranian people, against their wishes and interests." He considered "the elimination of Haniyeh in the heart of Tehran" as indicative of "how weak, incompetent, and vulnerable to infiltration the Islamic Republic regime is at the highest security levels," adding: "This regime only pretends to be powerful by beating, imprisoning, and killing innocent and defenseless Iranians who are fighting for their freedom in the streets." Prince Reza Pahlavi also emphasized that "brave Iranian fighters are the ultimate solution and the only path to achieving lasting peace in the Middle East," stating that "by supporting them to overthrow Ali Khamenei and his criminal caliphate, our region can finally be at peace and stability again." The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced early Wednesday that Ismail Haniyeh, along with one of his bodyguards, was targeted and killed at his residence in Tehran, but provided no further details on how this occurred. The killing of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran has also drawn attention from Iranian users on social media. Some referred to him as "cutlet" similar to Qassem Soleimani, while others viewed this incident as a sign of the "collapse of the security system" of the Islamic Republic. The Iranian Foreign Ministry claimed that the United States is responsible for Haniyeh's death in Tehran due to its support for Israel. Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, in his first comments on Haniyeh's killing, promised "severe retribution." Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the United States was "unaware of and not involved in" the killing of Haniyeh. Additionally, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin refrained from commenting on Haniyeh's killing in Tehran but emphasized that "war is not inevitable," although if Israel is attacked, the U.S. will certainly assist in its defense. Netanyahu did not mention Haniyeh; confirming Israel's role in the killing of the Hezbollah commander in Lebanon. Senator Tom Cotton's reaction to Haniyeh's killing: Without this "Hamas terrorist," America is a safer place. The director of policy for the "United Against a Nuclear Iran" stated that Tehran does not want to engage in direct war with Israel and the U.S. Norman Roll: The Revolutionary Guards, who were responsible for protecting Ismail Haniyeh, were humiliated. Reuters: The killing of Ismail Haniyeh was the latest development in the tumultuous Middle East. Senator Marco Rubio's reaction to Haniyeh's killing: The Islamic Republic has no right to complain. Germany's reaction to Haniyeh's killing: Tensions in the region must be prevented; Hamas is a terrorist organization.