Days after the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, Iran has launched a nationwide investigation and arrested dozens of suspects in search of those responsible, according to reports. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, saw Haniyeh killed in an explosion at a guesthouse in Tehran. He was staying there after attending the swearing-in ceremony of President Masoud Pezeshkian. Iran and Hamas have both blamed Israel for the assassination, vowing retaliation. Haniyeh’s death occurred while security in Iran was at its highest level due to Pezeshkian’s swearing-in and while he was staying under the protection of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) at a guesthouse in Tehran. This assassination represents a catastrophic intelligence and security failure for Iran, leaving the country fuming with anger and humiliation. According to The New York Times, Iran has arrested over two dozen people in the hunt for Haniyeh’s assassins. Among those detained are senior intelligence officers, military officials, and staff working at the IRGC-run guesthouse where Haniyeh was killed. The investigation, led by the IRGC’s specialized intelligence agency for espionage, is examining Iranian airports for clues. Agents are reviewing months of footage from arrival and departure lounges, scrutinizing flight lists, and searching for members of the alleged assassination squad responsible for planning, aiding, and carrying out Haniyeh’s killing. In a statement, the IRGC acknowledged the incident is under investigation, promising to announce further details in due course. Two Iranian officials privy to the investigation told The Times that investigators believe members of the Israeli spy agency Mossad’s assassination squad are still in Iran. Their arrest is a top priority. The assassination of Haniyeh while he was in the capital for a top state function and under the IRGC’s protection has been a colossal embarrassment for the Iranian regime. Iran, along with Western governments, has blamed Israel for the incident, which occurred hours after Israel killed Hezbollah military chief Faud Shukr in a strike in Lebanon’s capital Beirut. Hezbollah, like Hamas, is an Iran-backed terrorist group sharing Iran’s commitment to the destruction of Israel. These assassinations, particularly Haniyeh’s, highlight Iran’s vulnerability, demonstrating its inability to protect its allies both domestically and abroad. Ali Vaez, Iran Director for the International Crisis Group, told The Times that the perception of Iran’s inability to protect its homeland or key allies could be fatal for the Iranian regime. He argues that this signals to Iran’s foes that if they can’t topple the Islamic Republic, they can at least decapitate it. The assassination of Haniyeh serves as a stark reminder that no measures, including a totalitarian regime, a police state, bulletproof glass, or state-of-the-art air defences, can provide complete protection against Israeli spies and operatives.
