TEHRAN – Israel’s assassination of Hamas Political Chief Ismail Haniyeh was a “major mistake” that "will not go unanswered, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a meeting with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi.

Haniyeh was assassinated in his temporary residence in Tehran, hours after he attended Pezeshkian’s inauguration ceremony. Reports suggest that Safadi decided to travel to Iran after he failed to persuade its officials to refrain from retaliation during two phone calls with Acting Foreign Minister Ali Baqeri Kani. Safadi rejected those claims in statements to the media upon arrival in Tehran. 

"The assassination of martyr Haniyeh is against all international laws. Iran expects all Islamic countries and the freedom-seeking people of the world to strongly condemn such atrocities,” Pezeshkian told Jordan’s top diplomat on Sunday, emphasizing that the “major mistake” will receive a response from Tehran.  

Elsewhere in his remarks, Pezeshkian highlighted the importance of peace and stability in the region, reiterating that the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran under his administration is focused on fostering cooperation among nations. 

Safadi, for his part, said Amman will work closely with Tehran to “create greater stability, security, and peace in the region." he also condemned the assassination of Haniyeh, characterizing it as part of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's strategy to "expand the scope of conflicts in the region."

The Jordanian top diplomat also discussed regional issues in a separate meeting with Iran’s caretaker foreign minister.