Islamic Republic of Iran

TEHERAN - Serbian Deputy PM Aleksandar Vulin met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Teheran on Wednesday to discuss bilateral relations and continued cooperation as well as Iran's principled position of non-recognition of the so-called Kosovo.

The temperature is soaring. The already incendiary region of the Near Middle East is one step closer to the danger of a broader escalation after the assassination of Hamas’ top political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran early this morning.

Hamas' political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an Israeli strike in Iran on Wednesday, escalating tensions in the Middle East and prompted heightened global concern.

Hamas vowed the act "will not go unanswered," as its armed wing said Wednesday that the killing of its political leader takes the war with Israel to a "new levels," warning of repercussions for the entire region.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Tuesday attended the inauguration ceremony of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.

Pezeshkian won a runoff race against ultraconservative Saeed Jalili on July 5 to replace president Ebrahim Raisi who died in a helicopter crash in May.

Hamas said Wednesday its political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed in an Israeli strike in Iran, where he had been attending the inauguration of the country's new president.

The United States has announced economic sanctions against five individuals and seven entities based in Iran, China, and Hong Kong for their involvement in supplying components intended for the construction of drones for Iran, amidst escalating tensions in the Middle East.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will visit Tehran on Tuesday to participate in the inauguration ceremony of Iran's President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian.

"Our Minister will visit Tehran on July 30, 2024, to attend the inauguration ceremony of Iran's President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday.

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei gave Sunday his official endorsement of reformist Masoud Pezeshkian as the Islamic republic's ninth president, following snap elections that had concluded earlier this month.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held a phone call with Iran's acting top diplomat, Ali Bagheri Kani, on June 30 to discuss the war in Gaza and its potential to spread conflict across the region, according to Turkish diplomatic sources.

The sole reformist in Iran's presidential election, Masoud Pezeshkian, will face the ultraconservative Saeed Jalili in a runoff, authorities said on June 29, following a vote marred by historically low turnout.

Pezeshkian secured 42.4 percent of the vote, while Jalili, a former nuclear negotiator, came second with 38.6 percent, according to figures from Iran's elections authority.