Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi have exchanged views on the assassination of Hamas Politburo Chief Ismail Haniyeh.

In a meeting in the Iranian capital Tehran, the two sides also discussed the improvement of bilateral relations and the developments of Gaza, according to a statement published on Sunday on the website of the Iranian President’s office.

Pezeshkian said the “cowardly” assassination of Haniyeh in Tehran was a “big mistake” by Israel, noting that Iran expected all Muslim states and the world’s free people to strongly condemn such “crimes” as reported by Xinhua news agency.

He stressed that Israel’s “audacious” action would not go unanswered, adding those who claim to defend freedom, democracy and human rights had employed all their scientific and operational capabilities to “spread terrorism” and commit “heinous crimes”.

He highlighted the necessity to strengthen solidarity among Muslim countries to stop Israel’s “aggressions and crimes against the oppressed Palestinians in Gaza”.

Pezeshkian expressed hope that negotiations between Iranian and Jordanian diplomatic delegations on the resumption of normal relations would soon come to fruition, enabling the two Islamic countries to use each another’s capacities and people in the region to benefit from “friendship and constructive cooperation” between Tehran and Amman.

The Jordanian Foreign Minister, for his part, said his country had condemned the assassination of Haniyeh, describing the action as being in line with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s efforts to widen the scope of the conflict in the region.

Safadi also conveyed Jordanian King Abdullah II’s congratulations to Pezeshkian on his election as Iran’s President, saying Jordan was seeking to resume normal relations with Iran and to work together on ensuring stability, stability, security and calm in the region.

He voiced Jordan’s willingness to expand relations with Iran, saying his rare visit to Iran was aimed at exploring ways to strengthen bilateral ties.

Turning to the situation in Gaza, Safadi emphasised that his country had, from the very beginning, strongly condemned Israel’s “brutal aggression” against Gaza.

Earlier on Sunday, Safadi met Iran’s Caretaker Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani and discussed the recent escalation of tensions in the region as well as bilateral relations.

Although having diplomatic ties, the relationship between Iran and Jordan has long been tense.

In March last year, Jordan welcomed the decision by Iran and Saudi Arabia to resume ties.

Haniyeh, who had been invited to attend Pezeshkian’s swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday, was killed along with his bodyguard early Wednesday when their residence in Tehran was hit, according to Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, which said Israel had carried out the “terrorist attack” and vowed “a harsh and painful response”. AGENCIES

Iran’s Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani and Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon exchanged views on the assassination of Hamas Politburo Chief Ismail Haniyeh over a phone call.

During their phone conversation, Bagheri Kani said that Iran would undoubtedly use its “legitimate and inherent” right to defend its security, sovereignty and territorial integrity to create deterrence against Israel’s “acts of aggression” and ensure security and stability in the region, Xinhua news agency reported.

Bagheri Kani highlighted the importance of Iran’s role in maintaining peace, stability and calm in the West Asia region and the necessity to stop the “genocide” by Israel in Gaza and condemned its “unlawful” actions, according to a statement released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

On her part, Fajon said that her country condemned any violation of international law.

She expressed hope that all parties would exercise self-restraint and take steps “wisely and tactfully” towards ensuring stability in the region.

Haniyeh, who was in the Iranian capital Tehran to attend the inauguration of Iran’s new President, was killed together with his bodyguard in an airstrike before Wednesday dawn when their residence in Tehran was hit, according to Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, which said Israel had carried out the “terrorist attack” and vowed “a harsh and painful response.” AGENCIES

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said on Sunday that the country’s response to the assassination of Hamas Politburo Chief Ismail Haniyeh will be “crushing and smart.”

The response would make Israel and its supporters regret their action, forcing them to revise their system of calculations to refrain from making another “mistake” detrimental to their own security and regional peace, said Qalibaf, who made the remarks at an open session of the Iranian Parliament, reports Xinhua news agency, quoting IRIB.

Meanwhile, Hossein Taeb, a senior advisor to the chief commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), was quoted by IRIB as saying that the scenario designed to avenge Haniyeh’s assassination would be “new and surprising” and “unpredictable.”

Also on Sunday, Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesman of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said Iran’s intelligence authorities had assured that the assassination of Haniyeh was not the result of “infiltration.”

Necessary measures regarding the “terrorist action” and completing the required data were being implemented, Rezaei was quoted as saying by the Iranian official news agency.

Haniyeh, who had been invited to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday, was killed along with his bodyguard early Wednesday when their residence in Tehran was hit, according to the IRGC, which said Israel had carried out the attack and vowed “a harsh and painful response.”

Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said Israel had prepared the ground for a “harsh punishment” for itself. AGENCIES

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said that de-escalation in the Middle East depends solely on halting the aggression in Gaza and preventing its expansion into Lebanon.

The Prime Minister made the remarks during a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday, according to a statement issued by al-Sudani’s media office.

The two sides discussed the latest regional and international developments and efforts to prevent further escalation of tensions in the region, reports Xinhua news agency, citing the statement.

Al-Sudani stressed the need to deter Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government from attacking regional countries and to put an end to their repeated violations of international law and sovereignty, the statement read.

On his part, Blinken expressed the United States’ desire for Iraq to play a role in maintaining regional stability and preventing escalation by all parties, it added. AGENCIES

Israel is considering a preemptive strike on Iran amid reports of the latter preparing to attack it. 

Israeli media has reported that the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken has already communicated to the G7 allies on the possibility of Iran attacking Israel in the next 48 hours. He has, however, not communicated the exact timing of the attack as well as the volume of the attack.

The media in the region has already reported that Israel is mulling the possibility of an advanced attack on Tehran if it gets a full-proof intelligence report on the possibility of an Iranian attack in the next 48 hours.

It may be recalled that senior officials of the Israeli establishment had already said that Israel had deep penetration within Tehran and getting full-proof and air-tight information on Iranian moves is not that difficult for its undercover agents.

Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu convened Israel’s security chiefs for a meeting on Sunday evening.

The meeting was attended by Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, Mossad head David Barnea and Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar.

Sources in the Israel Defence establishment told IANS that the meeting was held amid preparations for anticipated attacks on Israel by Iran and its proxies — Hezbollah, Hamas and Houthis.

The Hamas political chief and its public face, Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah’s military chief Fuad Shukr were assassinated in Tehran and Beirut last week.

Iran has put the blame on Israel for Haniyeh’s death and has vowed to retaliate even though Israel has kept a studied silence on the murder of the high-profile Hamas leader. However, Israel had claimed responsibility for the assassination of Faud Shukr.

Israel is expecting an onslaught from Iran in the coming days and is discussing a wide range of options as to how it can best respond to, or prevent, an anticipated assault.

According to sources in Israel’s defence ministry, there is information of an imminent strike by Iran. However, it is still unsure of the volume of the attack and hence is waiting for a complete report on the same for further action. AGENCIES

King Abdullah II of Jordan has called for intensified international efforts to achieve comprehensive de-escalation and to avoid further conflict and chaos in the region.

The king made these remarks during a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, in which they discussed the serious developments in the region, according to a statement from the Royal Hashemite Court released on Sunday.

The Jordanian leader underscored the importance of halting regional escalation and “unilateral Israeli actions,” warning that such actions could fuel violence and tensions in the region, Xinhua news agency reported.

The king emphasised the necessity of reaching an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and ending the humanitarian suffering of its residents, noting that Jordan will continue to provide relief assistance through all available means.

He also reiterated the importance of working toward a political solution that leads to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

During the call, they also discussed ways to enhance cooperation between their countries and maintain coordination to serve their mutual interests. AGENCIES

Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, has declined Donald Trump’s suggestion to move the presidential debate to Fox News, media reports said.

Trump, 78, and President Joe Biden had agreed in May to two presidential debates. The first which was with CNN took place in June while a second one slated for September 10 was planned to be hosted by ABC News.

But Biden dropped out in the previous month and therefore, Vice-President Harris is the declared presidential candidate for 2024 in the Democratic Party.

The assessment was published before Saturday, when Trump said he had agreed to an offer by Fox News to debate Harris on September 4, in what would be a departure from the planned format if reported by CBS News.

Trump said, “I have decided with Fox News to debate Kamala Harris on Wednesday, September 4. The previous debate that was supposed to be conducted with sleepy Joe Biden on the ABC channel is no longer possible Bianchi is no longer a participant in a legal battle against the ABC Network and George Slopadopoulos, thus there is a conflict of interest.”

Consequently, Harris countered using platform X declined Trump’s debate invitation on Fox News.

“It’s interesting how “any time, any place” becomes “one specific time, one specific safe space”. I’ll be there on September 10, like he agreed to. I hope to see him there,” Harris said.

The Harris campaign also offered an affirmation of their stand to adhere to the ABC News debate plan. They claimed that Trump was ‘running scared’ and required Fox News’ help to avoid the scheduled debate with ABC News.

“He needs to stop playing games and show up to the debate he already committed to on Sept. 10,” the report quoted Michael Tyler, the Harris campaign communication director, as saying.

“The Vice President will be there one way or the other to take the opportunity to speak to a prime-time national audience,” Tyler said, adding that the campaign is open to discussing further debates but only after the one both campaigns have already agreed to takes place. AGENCIES

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attended a ceremony to commemorate the transfer of a new-type tactical ballistic missile weapon system, which serves as the “pivot military hardware” in the armed forces, state media reported on Monday.

Kim attended the ceremony, which took place on Sunday, showcasing 250 new-type tactical ballistic missile launchers to front-line military units, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Kim also delivered a speech, stating that an important task specified in the practical guidelines for bolstering military strength, decided at the 8th WPK Congress, has been successfully carried out, reports Yonhap news agency, quoting KCNA.

The report did not provide further details on the new system or where the inspection took place.

Photos released by the KCNA suggest that the transferred weapon system is the ‘Hwasong-11’ launcher, which is expected to be deployed in the military demarcation line area with South Korea.

Kim recently said the US-led alliance has changed into a military bloc based on nuclear power, using it as a rationale for strengthening the country’s military capabilities.

In Sunday’s speech, the North Korean leader again blamed the US for creating various types of threats that forced his country to enhance its military capabilities.

Kim also mentioned that the US will remain a hostile nation for generations, hinting at the regime’s commitment to bolstering its military capabilities, regardless of the outcome of the US presidential election in November.

South Korea’s Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, refuted Kim’s repeated remarks about strengthening military power due to US threat.

“The primary reason for the threat to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula is North Korea’s illegal development of nuclear weapons and missiles, which directly threatens both South Korea and the world,” Koo Byoung-sam, spokesperson at the ministry, said during a regular briefing.

South Korea’s military said intelligence authorities from the South and the United States have continuously tracked and monitored the North’s weapons development and said the new weapons will likely be used to threaten the South.

“We assess they will be utilised for various means, such as attacking or threatening the South,” Col. Lee Sung-joon, spokesperson of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a regular press briefing, noting how the deployment of the missile launchers near the border area suggests they are intended for close-range launches.

The latest event comes as North Korea has been mostly focusing on beefing up its short- and intermediate-range missile capabilities this year with the test launch of short-range ballistic missiles, strategic cruise missiles and hypersonic missiles.

Observers say that it remains to be seen whether the North, which has been struggling with scarce resources amid international sanctions over its weapons development, can secure enough parts to manufacture missiles for the new launchers.

The ceremony also comes as the North appears to have suffered from recent floods. The North’s border city of Sinuiju and Uiju County in North Pyongan Province were recently pummeled by heavy rains. South Korean media outlets have reported that the number of those who died or went missing could exceed 1,000.

Kim noted that the event comes at a time when the entire country is engaged in recovery efforts from flood damage, the KCNA said.

Other KCNA photos also showed Kim’s daughter, Ju-ae, attending the event, making her first public appearance in nearly three months.

South Korean lawmakers earlier said the younger Kim is being groomed to succeed her father, though the selection is not final and he could ultimately choose someone else, quoting the National Intelligence Service.

The South Korean spy agency made the report to the parliamentary intelligence committee last month, saying North Korea has suggested Ju-ae is a strong candidate to succeed her father by adjusting the frequency of her public appearances to gauge public sentiment, Rep. Lee Seong-kweun of the ruling People Power Party and Rep. Park Sun-won of the main opposition Democratic Party said during a press briefing. AGENCIES

Families of the victims of the deadly 2020 Beirut port blasts have commemorated the fourth anniversary of the incident with two marches in downtown Beirut and a gathering in front of the port’s silos.

Several families gave speeches that stressed the necessity of completing the investigation, issuing an indictment in the case, and naming those responsible for the blasts, Xinhua news agency reported on Sunday.

A few politicians, party representatives, members of civil society organisations, and hundreds of Lebanese citizens took part in the commemoration activities, raising pictures of the victims and slogans demanding justice and accountability for those involved.

They also raised a huge Lebanese flag that bears the signatures of hundreds of citizens calling for the truth about the incident to be revealed.

At 6:07 p.m. local time, the participants observed a minute of silence, accompanied by the ringing of nearby church bells and the sirens of ships anchored in the port, all in tribute to the victims.

The Beirut port was rocked by two massive explosions on August 4, 2020, which killed more than 200 people, injured thousands, and destroyed around 50,000 housing units. The material losses were estimated at $15 billion. AGENCIES

The Libyan Foreign Ministry condemned a deadly attack launched by the al-Shabab extremist group on a beachside hotel in Somalia’s capital.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation expresses the strong condemnation and denunciation of the State of Libya to the terrorist attack that targeted a hotel in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, which killed and injured dozens,” it said in a statement on Sunday.

The ministry also said that these acts are against humanity, reports Xinhua news agency.

“We reiterate Libya’s firm position to reject and renounce violence and terrorism of all forms, stressing that such acts are against international laws and humanitarian and moral values,” it said.

At least 35 people were killed and 126 others were injured in a suicide bombing and gun attack on a beachside hotel in Mogadishu on Friday night.

The al-Shabab extremist group claimed responsibility for the attack on their official radio. AGENCIES