In response to Israel's assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, head of the political bureau of the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas, inside his residence in the capital, Tehran, diplomatic efforts continue at full speed to prevent the region from slipping into a large-scale war. According to American reports, Iran has begun to move missile launch pads, and the Revolutionary Guards will close the airspace and conduct military exercises. The US Air Force will also deploy stealth aircraft in the region.

Mediators are flocking to Tehran to dissuade its leaders from any military action that might ignite a comprehensive war, especially since foreign and Arab media reports have revealed preparations are taking place for a possible Iranian strike on Israel.

The Wall Street Journal reported that indications showed that Tehran is preparing to launch an attack in the coming days.

The newspaper quoted American officials as saying that they had noticed days ago that Iran had begun to move missile launch pads and conduct military exercises, which may indicate that Tehran is preparing to launch an attack in the coming days, according to Al Arabiya TV. Al Arabiya also quoted American officials as saying that Biden was informed of an expected scenario of two waves of attacks, one from Iran and the other from Hezbollah.

Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of staff of Iran's Armed Forces, also announced that his country would respond in a definite and strict manner to the Israeli assassination policy and the crimes of the occupation. Bagheri confirmed that the selection of Yahiya Sinwar as the leader of the Hamas movement, succeeding Ismail Haniyeh in the position of head of the movement's political bureau, means that Israel has lost hope in the possibility of eliminating Sinwar, according to the Egyptian Cairo News Channel.

Hebrew media reported that Iran published a notice to airlines informing them of the closure of the country's airspace on August 7 and 8 due to the military manoeuvres conducted by the Israeli Air Force on those two days.

According to Hebrew media, long-range air missiles were tested as part of preparations for an attack on Israel. Iranian reports also stated that the Revolutionary Guards in western Iran conducted military exercises there. Bloomberg reported, citing an American defense official, that the US Air Force will deploy a squadron of 16 to 24 F-22-stealth aircraft to the region as soon as this week.

Foreign reports confirm that Iran is determined to punish Israel. For this reason, the Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned foreign ambassadors accredited to Tehran that the Iranian side sees punishing Israel for its violation of laws as a duty that must be carried out.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani confirmed the same meaning during a weekly press conference, where he announced that "Iran's response is inevitable", explaining that his country does not want to destabilise the region, but that goal would not be achieved until the aggressor is punished and the Israeli regime is deterred.

At the same time, Kanaani called on the US to stop supporting Israel, stressing that the international community has failed to protect regional stability.

The White House is trying to contain the situation, as US President Joe Biden met with the White House National Security Team. Following the meeting, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made statements stressing the need to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, calling on all parties to exercise restraint and avoid any escalation. However, he indicated that he expected Iran to launch several attacks on Israel.

The Guardian newspaper also warned that the assassination of Haniyeh would cast a negative shadow over international efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip between the Palestinian and Israeli sides and the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.

Photo: How will Iran respond to the killing of Ismail Haneyeh? (by Adobe)