Israel got US greenlight to assassinate Haniyeh: Iranian intelligence minister

ISTANBUL

Iran's intelligence minister on Friday said Israel got the US greenlight to assassinate Ismail Haniyeh, head of Palestinian group Hamas' political bureau.

According to Iranian state news agency IRNA, the statement came in a letter by Esmaeil Khatib to Haniyeh's family, Hamas, and the Palestinian people over the assassination.

He said the killing of Haniyeh by Israel "with the go-ahead of the US, once again demonstrated the brutality of the Zionist entity," in reference to Israel.

Following the assassination, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a statement that the country considers it a duty to "avenge the dear guest's blood," blaming Israel for it.

"We consider his revenge as our duty," the supreme leader said.

Haniyeh was assassinated on Wednesday in the Iranian capital, Tehran. While Hamas and Iran blame Israel for the killing, Tel Aviv has neither confirmed nor denied its responsibility.

Though Israel has remained silent about Haniyeh's death, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has hinted at Tel Aviv's involvement in his assassination.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar