Shamkhani: Preparations for Severe Punishment of Israel, Which Only Understands the Language of Force, Are in Place

Ten days after the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of the extremist group Hamas, Iranian officials once again intensified their verbal threats against Israel. Haniyeh was killed early on August 1 at his residence in northern Tehran along with one of his bodyguards. The Islamic Republic and Hamas, which are classified as terrorist organizations by the United States and the European Union, hold Israel responsible for Haniyeh's death and have threatened to take 'revenge' on Israel. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied this responsibility and has warned against any attacks from Tehran and its proxy groups in the region. A week after anxiety and concern in the region regarding the Islamic Republic's response to Israel, several American media outlets, including Politico and CNN, reported that the Islamic Republic may be reconsidering its retaliatory attack on Israel. Iran emphasized its right to respond to Israel, stating that a ceasefire in Gaza is a priority. The Iranian representation at the United Nations also responded on August 10 to a question about whether Iran could postpone its retaliatory action until after ceasefire negotiations in Gaza next week, stating relatively mildly: 'We hope our response will be timed in a way that does not harm a potential ceasefire.' This representation added: 'Establishing a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza is our priority, and any agreement that Hamas accepts will also be acceptable to us.' However, Ali Shamkhani, an advisor to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, wrote on the social media platform X on August 11, without explicitly mentioning an attack by the Islamic Republic on Israel, that 'the legal, diplomatic, and media processes have prepared the groundwork for the severe punishment of a regime that only understands the language of force.' He referred to the recent Israeli attacks in Gaza, stating that the aim of this attack and the killing of Haniyeh was 'to undermine ceasefire negotiations.' The Civil Defense Administration of the Gaza Strip, controlled by the extremist group Hamas, announced on Saturday that 93 people were killed in Israeli attacks on a school in the city of Gaza. The Israeli army claims that this school was used as a command center for 'terrorists.' Hours before Shamkhani's message, Ali Fadavi, the deputy commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reiterated the Islamic Republic's verbal threats against Israel in an interview with the Al-Mayadeen news network. He stated that the Supreme Leader's order regarding 'revenge for Haniyeh's blood' is 'clear and explicit' and 'will be executed in the best possible manner.' This high-ranking IRGC official, classified as a terrorist organization by the United States, did not provide details about the implementation of Khamenei's order. John Kirby, the National Security Council spokesman at the White House, in response to reporters' inquiries regarding Fadavi's statements, said that the United States is prepared to defend Israel with abundant resources in the region. Kirby added: 'When we hear such rhetoric, we must take it seriously, and we [will do so].' Ali Bagheri, the head of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, claimed in an interview with Agence France-Presse on Thursday that Israel made a 'strategic mistake' by killing Haniyeh and that it 'will pay a heavy price for it.' However, so far, the Islamic Republic's response to Haniyeh's killing has remained limited to verbal threats and claims about the military capabilities of the Islamic Republic. The Islamic Republic of Iran's state television reported on Saturday that the IRGC has added new missiles and drones to its naval forces' arsenal. Following Haniyeh's killing, the Middle East, especially Israel, is on high alert for a possible attack by Iran or its allies against Israel. On Thursday, continuing the coordination between Israel and the United States in facing such potential attacks, General Kurilla, the commander of CENTCOM, visited Israel for the second time in a week. Tehran welcomed Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, which initiated the current war in the Gaza Strip, while claiming it had no direct involvement in it.