By Syed Zafar Mehdi

TEHRAN, Iran (AA) – The Iranian government has declared three days of national mourning following Hamas political bureau leader Ismail Haniyeh's assassination in Tehran in the early hours of Wednesday.

In an official statement issued on Wednesday, Iran's newly elected government, led by President Masoud Pezeshkian, said the assassination of the Hamas leader has "caused grief to the Islamic nation, the devotees of the resistance movement, and all the free people of the world."

The assassination “adds another page to the disgraceful record of crimes by the sinister and usurping Zionist entity,” the statement noted, referring to Israel.

Iran has blamed Israel for the assassination, but Tel Aviv has refused to confirm or deny its involvement.

“The government of the Islamic Republic of Iran condemns this barbaric act, which was carried out with specific goals at the beginning of the National Unity Government's work, violating all human principles and international law, and targeting an official and diplomatic guest of the Islamic Republic of Iran who was attending the presidential inauguration ceremony,” the statement added.

“This act is a clear indication of the terrorist nature of the Zionist regime and the lack of safety from the malignancy of this corrupt and incorrigible entity anywhere on the planet.”

Iran’s government called on all “independent governments and honorable and free-thinking individuals” to “confront the criminal gang ruling the occupied territories.”

The state of mourning will be observed from Wednesday to Friday.

According to Iranian media, the attack targeted Haniyeh reportedly took place at a guesthouse for war veterans in northern Tehran managed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The assassination of Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards was confirmed by the IRGC in a statement. The Guards said an investigation into the incident is currently underway.

Meanwhile, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a statement said the country considers it a duty to “avenge the dear guest's blood,” blaming Israel for it.

President Pezeshkian also condemned the assassination of the Hamas political bureau chief, pledging to "defend the country's territorial integrity, honor and dignity."

Haniyeh was in Tehran for the swearing-in ceremony of Iran's newly elected president.