Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has ordered a direct attack on Israel to avenge the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, the top leader and head of the political wing of Hamas. Khamenei gave this order in an emergency meeting of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council on Wednesday morning.

Citing three top Iranian officials, the New York Times reported that Ayatollah Khamenei ordered the attack on Israel.

Two of the three officials present at the meeting were members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

According to the New York Times report, an emergency meeting of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran was held on Wednesday morning in the presence of Ayatollah Khamenei, shortly after the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. Iran’s supreme religious leader ordered the Israeli attack. Three Iranian officers were present along with the two members of the Revolutionary Guard. However, they did not want to be named.

Khamenei ordered the military commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the army to develop plans for both an attack and a defense against Israel. He even expressed fear that the United States may attack Iran.

After the killing of Haniya, Khamenei said in a public statement that Iran will take revenge for this murder. We will avenge his blood. Because this murder happened in the territory of the Islamic Republic. Israel has set the stage for ‘severe punishment’.

Newly elected Iranian President Massoud Pezheshkian, the Foreign Ministry, the Guards and other Iranian officials, including Iran’s mission to the United Nations, have also publicly stated that Iran will avenge the killing and has the right to defend itself against violations of its sovereignty.

Notably, Iran and Hamas blame Israel for Ismail Haniya’s murder.