Iran has arrested dozens of suspects in its investigation of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh’s assassination, The New York Times reported on Saturday.
The arrested parties included senior intelligence officers, military officials, and staff workers at the guest house where Haniyeh was killed.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps’ specialized intelligence unit is reportedly running the investigations.
Haniyeh was assassinated in bed on Wednesday, shortly after attending the inauguration of Iran’s new president.
Despite initial reports claiming that he had been killed by an Israeli airstrike, sources confirmed that he was killed by an explosive device smuggled into the guest house.
Israel, despite international accusations, has not claimed responsibility for the killing.
Why Iran is resorting to extreme measures
Commentators have noted that the assassination of a terrorist leader on Iranian soil may be a massive blow to the regime – indicating to terrorist leaders that residing in Iran will no longer leave them immune to attack.
“The perception that Iran can neither protect its homeland nor its key allies could be fatal for the Iranian regime, because it basically signals to its foes that if they can’t topple the Islamic Republic, they can decapitate it,” Ali Vaez, the Iran director for the International Crisis Group, told the Times.
“This security breach requires different policies and strategies; it may be arresting spies if there was infiltration, or retaliation if the operation was conducted from outside the borders, or a combination of both,” Sasan Karimi, a political analyst in Tehran, told the paper.
Focusing the investigation
Investigators have reportedly searched months’ worth of surveillance footage at the guest house and are now investigating every visitor who entered the premises.
In addition to surveilling the property records, sources told the Times that the investigation has also focused on Tehran’s international and domestic airports, where agents have been stationed.
Two sources claimed that Iran believed Mossad assassins were still in the country and the regime was anticipating their capture.
An anonymous IRGC official also told the Times that while he wasn’t aware of any arrests, security protocols had been completely overhauled in the past two days for senior officials.
Some senior officials have been relocated, while the electronic equipment of others has been replaced.