Iran’s Revolutionary Guards spokesperson Alimohammad Naini said on August 20 that Iran’s retaliation against Israel could be delayed. The Middle East has been bracing for Iran’s avowed retaliation over the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31. Naini said “the enemy” should wait for a calculated and accurate response, adding Iran’s response might not be a repetition of the previous operations. Meanwhile, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Washington opposes a long-term Israeli occupation of Gaza.
