Iran's Revolutionary Guards has said that Palestinian militant group Hamas' leader Ismail Haniyeh was slain in Tehran by a short-range projectile with a warhead of about 7kg, as they vowed severe revenge.
The Hamas chief's assassination has aroused fears of direct conflict between Tehran and its arch-enemy Israel in a region shaken by Israel's war in Gaza and a worsening conflict in Lebanon.
Revenge for the killing of the Hamas leader will be "severe and at an appropriate time, place, and manner", the guards Statement added, blaming what they referred to as the "terrorist Zionist regime" of Israel for his death.
Iran and Hamas have accused Israel of carrying out the strike that killed Mr Haniyeh hours after he attended the inauguration of Iran's new president.
The New York Times, citing unnamed sources, reported that the explosion which killed
Mr Haniyeh was a bomb that was covertly smuggled into the guesthouse where he was staying in Tehran two months ago.
Read more: Tough-talking Haniyeh was seen as more moderate face of Hamas
Israeli officials have not claimed responsibility.
The statement by the elite Guards force also accused the "criminal US government" of supporting the attack which Iranian media said was in a northern suburb of Tehran.
Mr Haniyeh was buried on Friday in Qatar, where he was based.
