The American newspaper "The New York Times" continues to reveal more information about how Ismail Haniya, the head of Hamas's political bureau, was reached and assassinated in the heart of Tehran. After contradicting previous information regarding the weapon used for his assassination, the newspaper confirmed that an explosive device was planted in the room where Haniya was located. Today, the newspaper reports that Tehran has carried out a campaign of arrests affecting over 20 people, including senior officers, in light of the security breach that led to the assassination of Ismail Haniya. The newspaper pointed out that among the detainees are intelligence officers, military personnel, and staff from the guesthouse.
The head of Hamas's political bureau and one of his bodyguards were killed after their residence in Tehran was targeted following Haniya's participation in the swearing-in ceremony of Iranian President Masoud Bezhkishian and his meeting with Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In this context, two Iranian officials told "The Telegraph" that the original Mossad plan was to assassinate Haniya during a memorial service for former President Ibrahim Raisi. They added that Mossad hired Iranian security agents to place the explosive device in his room, explaining that the plan to assassinate Haniya was altered during the memorial for the late Raisi.
The newspaper mentioned that Mossad planted explosives in three separate rooms at the guesthouse where Haniya was assassinated, utilizing Iranian security personnel from the "Ansar al-Mahdi" unit. It was also reported that Iranian officials stated that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is more interested in understanding the reasons behind the security breach than in seeking revenge. A close associate of Bezhkishian told "The Telegraph" that the Revolutionary Guard is dissatisfied with some of the president's policies, adding, "The security breach might have been intentional by the Revolutionary Guard to harm the president."
Additionally, an official from the Revolutionary Guard revealed to "The Telegraph" that additional explosive devices were found in the building where Haniya was assassinated. Earlier, the Tasnim news agency reported that an investigation into Haniya's assassination is ongoing, and results will be announced soon. In this context, the representative of the Iranian leader in the southern province of Fars confirmed the involvement of internal parties in the assassination of the head of Hamas's political bureau at his residence in Tehran. During a Friday prayer sermon in Shiraz province, Lotfollah Dezkam, a member of the Assembly of Experts in Iran, stated, "The enemy used infiltrated internal elements to assassinate Ismail Haniya."
