TEHRAN – Iran’s envoy to the 11th Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in Geneva, Reza Ghaebi, has condemned the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh as a "systematic terrorist operation" that reveals the "rebellious nature" of the Israeli regime.

"The Zionist assassination of Hamas's top political leader Ismail Haniyeh is a clear example of the Israeli regime's disregard for international law and its continued aggression against the Palestinian people," Ghaebi stated. He accused the international community of "giving a green light" to Israel's violations of sovereignty and assassinations of political figures by failing to hold the regime accountable.

"With its cruel and aggressive policies in more than seven decades, the Tel Aviv regime has been blatantly breaching the principles of international law, including the international humanitarian law and human rights regulations," Ghaebi added. He further asserted that Iran "reserves the right to take necessary measures to retaliate against the terrorist act of the Israeli regime."

Haniyeh was assassinated in a pre-dawn Israeli attack in Tehran on Wednesday, just a day after attending the swearing-in ceremony of Iran's new president, Masoud Pezeshkian.