Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Friday, August 23, 2024
From the Liveblog of
Friday, August 23, 2024
Iran FM tells French, British counterparts Tehran is entitled to ‘punish’ Israel for Haniyeh’s death — IRNA
People walk past a banner featuring a picture of the late Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed last month while in Iran, in Tehran on August 20, 2024. (Atta KENARE / AFP)
Iran’s new Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi tells his French and British counterparts in telephone conversations that it is his country’s right to retaliate against Israel for last month’s assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, according to the official IRNA news agency.
Iran blames Israel for Haniyeh’s killing on July 31, which Araqchi was quoted as saying was “an unforgivable violation of Iran’s security and sovereignty,” adding, “Punishing the aggressor is Iran’s right.”
Israel has neither claimed nor denied responsibility for the assassination.
France’s Stephane Sejourne and Britain’s David Lammy had called to congratulate Araqchi on his appointment this week as Iran’s new foreign minister.
