TEHRAN– Iran's foreign minister has declared Tehran's intention to respond decisively to the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Tehran on July 31.

During a phone call with Egypt's foreign minister, Badr Abdel Aati, on Saturday, Abbas Araqchi emphasized Iran's "legitimate right" to retaliate against the terrorist act by the Israeli regime. 

Araqchi’s statement comes amid heightened tensions following the attack, which is attributed to Israel. Haniyeh was in Tehran to attend the inauguration of President Masoud Pezeshkian when he was assassinated along with one of his bodyguards.

Araqchi's remarks were underscored by strong statements from Iranian leaders, including the Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and President Pezeshkian, both of whom have vowed to avenge Haniyeh's death.

The conversation between Araqchi and Aati also focused on the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Araqchi praised Egypt's significant efforts to establish a ceasefire, which is reportedly being considered by Hamas. 

According to Araqchi, Egypt's role is crucial in mediating a resolution to the violence that has devastated the region.

On Saturday, Hamas announced that a delegation led by senior official Khalil al-Hayya would travel to Cairo to listen to the results of the ceasefire negotiations, which have been facilitated by Egyptian and Qatari mediators. 

The Gaza conflict has already resulted in the deaths of over 40,300 Palestinians, primarily women and children, since October 2023. Over ten months into the Israeli war, vast tracts of Gaza lie in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.

The Egyptian foreign minister updated Araqchi on his country's diplomatic efforts to halt the war in Gaza and deliver international humanitarian aid to the besieged territory. Both ministers agreed on the need to prevent the conflict from escalating further and spreading across the region. 

They also pledged to continue political consultations on regional developments and mutual relations.

Iran, Turkey vow to strengthen ties amid regional tensions

In a separate conversation, Araqchi spoke with Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan on Saturday, highlighting the importance of increased collaboration between Muslim nations, particularly Iran and Turkey, in countering Israel's destabilizing actions in the region. 

Araqchi expressed concern over the growing crises in West Asia, which he attributed to Israel's efforts to provoke tensions and spread instability.

Araqchi also emphasized the need to enhance bilateral relations between Iran and Turkey, expressing Tehran's readiness to engage in constructive dialogue aimed at strengthening cooperation in various fields. This collaboration is seen as essential for addressing the ongoing challenges and ensuring regional stability.

Turkish foreign minister Fidan congratulated Araqchi on his recent appointment as Iran's new foreign minister and reiterated Turkey's commitment to continuing political consultations with Iran. 

He stressed Turkey's interest in working closely with Iran on regional and international developments, particularly the current tensions in West Asia.

Iran pursues deep strategic relations in Latin America: Araqchi

Iran's outreach extended beyond the West Asia, with Araqchi engaging in a phone conversation with Venezuela's foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto on Saturday. 

Araqchi reaffirmed Iran's strategic commitment to deepening relations with Latin American countries, underscoring Venezuela's special significance in Iran's foreign policy.

He also highlighted the recent congratulations from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro following his victory in the presidential election. 

Araqchi condemned any external interference in Latin America's internal affairs and stressed the importance of respecting the sovereignty of nations in the region.

Both Araqchi and Pinto expressed their readiness to advance bilateral cooperation by exchanging high-level delegations and implementing agreements aimed at strengthening ties. 

They also discussed exploring new areas of cooperation to further enhance the relationship between Tehran and Caracas.

Tehran, Baku discuss strengthening bilateral ties

In another telephone conversation on Sunday, Jeyhun Bayramov, the foreign minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan, congratulated Araqchi on his appointment as the new foreign minister of Iran. 

During the call, Minister Bayramov extended his best wishes for Araqchi’s success in his new role.

Bayramov highlighted Azerbaijan’s strong interest in fostering and expanding friendly relations with Iran, grounded in the principles of good neighborliness. 

He expressed optimism that under Araqchi’s leadership, the cooperation between Tehran and Baku would grow even stronger, ushering in a new era of enhanced bilateral ties.

In response, Araqchi expressed his gratitude to the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister for his warm congratulations. He emphasized that deepening friendly relations based on mutual interests with Azerbaijan is a key priority for Iran's foreign policy. 

Araqchi also underscored the importance of fully leveraging the existing potential for collaboration between the two nations.

The conversation also covered significant regional and international developments, with a particular focus on the Caucasus region. Both ministers shared their perspectives on the evolving situation and discussed potential areas for further cooperation.

To cement their commitment to stronger bilateral relations, the two ministers extended mutual invitations for official visits to their respective capitals. 

They agreed on the necessity of revitalizing bilateral relations through the continuous exchange of high-level delegations and maintaining regular consultations between their foreign ministries. 

Additionally, they emphasized the importance of continued collaboration between their representatives in regional and international forums, aiming to further solidify the partnership between Azerbaijan and Iran on the global stage.