TEHRAN – A top commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has reiterated Iran’s determination to seek revenge for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Tehran this past July.

Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naqdi, the IRGC's deputy commander for coordination, emphasized that Iran's response is inevitable and will be carried out at the appropriate time to maximize its impact.

"Revenge is certain, and we have made it clear on multiple occasions. There is no doubt about it. The retaliation must happen at the right time to be effective," Naqdi stated on Saturday during a ceremony. He added that the public could expect positive news regarding the impending retribution, hinting that the act of vengeance is already in motion.

Haniyeh, a prominent leader of the Palestinian resistance group Hamas, was assassinated along with one of his bodyguards in the Iranian capital on July 31. The killing occurred just one day after Haniyeh had attended the swearing-in ceremony of Iran’s newly elected president, Masoud Pezeshkian. 

The assassination took place amid a backdrop of escalating violence between Israel and Gaza, which has, since October of last year, claimed the lives of nearly 41,000 Palestinians, including a significant number of women and children.

During his remarks, General Naqdi also criticized Israel’s prolonged military campaign against Gaza, denouncing the Israeli regime's brutal actions. He pointed fingers at the United States, labeling the American government as the "sole backer" of Israel's crimes against the Palestinian people. 

“The U.S. is complicit in the atrocities in Gaza," Naqdi declared, urging for greater efforts to halt the killing of innocent civilians, including children and students, in the besieged enclave.

The ongoing conflict, now stretching into its eleventh month, has left much of Gaza in ruins, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis as food, clean water, and medicine remain scarce under an unrelenting blockade. 

Israel's military campaign has drawn widespread condemnation from international organizations, with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing Israel of committing acts of genocide. 

The assassination of Haniyeh, coupled with Israel's devastating assault on Gaza, has only further fueled tensions in the region.