Iran has said it wants to avoid negatively impacting Gaza ceasefire talks with its anticipated retaliation against Israel over the assassination of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last month, Anadolu reports.

Achieving a permanent ceasefire in Gaza remains a priority, Iran’s permanent mission to the UN said in a statement following inquiries about whether Tehran would delay its retaliation plans for the planned ceasefire talks.

It also said that any agreement accepted by Hamas would be acceptable to Iran as well.

The statement condemned Haniyeh’s assassination in Tehran as a “violation of Iranian national security and sovereignty.” Iran emphasised its right to self-defence but stressed that it hoped its response would not impede the ongoing ceasefire efforts.