Iran Arrests Military, Intelligence Officials in Haniyeh Assassination Probe

Iran has detained 20 individuals, including senior intelligence officers, military officials, and staff workers at a military-run guesthouse in Tehran, in connection with an investigation into the assassination plot against Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

The arrests are a response to what has been described as a severe security breach that facilitated Haniyeh's assassination through a bomb explosion at a military guesthouse. The operation is believed to have involved the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, with reports indicating that Iranian security agents were hired to plant the explosives. Iran suspects that members of Mossad's assassination team may still be in the country, prompting ongoing efforts to uncover the full extent of the breach and address potential threats. The arrests are part of a broader crackdown aimed at securing the country against further infiltration and ensuring accountability within Iran's intelligence and military establishments.

According to The Telegraph, the Israeli spy agency Mossad reportedly hired Iranian security agents to plant explosives in a Tehran guesthouse where Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh was staying. The initial assassination plan, during Haniyeh's visit to Iran in May for the funeral of former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, was aborted due to concerns over a large crowd and potential failure. Despite this, two agents planted explosives in three rooms of the guesthouse, which is frequented by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The agents were seen on CCTV entering and exiting quickly. After leaving Iran, they remotely detonated the explosives, killing Haniyeh. An IRGC official stated there is uncertainty if Mossad hired agents from the Ansar al-Mahdi protection unit, tasked with protecting high-ranking officials. Additional explosive devices were found in two other rooms.

The assassination has caused outrage in Iran, with officials calling it a major security breach and a humiliation. Internal investigations are ongoing, and the IRGC is considering retaliatory actions against Israel. Haniyeh was buried in Qatar on Friday, with his potential successor vowing continued resistance against Israel.