On December 25, 2024, Iran's ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, characterized Israel's acknowledgment of its role in the assassination of former Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh as a "shameless admission" of an "atrocious crime."
Iravani's remarks followed a statement from Israeli Defense Minister acknowledging the country's responsibility for Haniyeh's death, which occurred in Tehran on July 31, 2024, reportedly due to an explosive device planted by Israeli agents weeks prior.
This is the first time Israel has openly admitted to the assassination, which had previously been attributed to the country by both Iran and Hamas. In October, Iran claimed to have launched 200 missiles at Israel in response to the killing.
Irani emphasized that Israel's admission reinforces Iran's claim of legitimacy regarding its defensive actions taken on October 1, 2024, asserting that the Israeli regime poses a significant threat to regional and international peace and security.
Additionally, on September 27, Israel killed Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah in Beirut, followed by the assassination of Haniyeh's successor, Yahya Sinwar, on October 16 in Gaza. Israeli officials stated that Sinwar was involved in orchestrating the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas that ignited the ongoing conflict in Gaza, resulting in substantial casualties and destruction in the region.