In the latest development in the escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, Iranian officials have defended their "legal right to punish" Israel for the assassination of Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran last week. While Tehran claims to seek stability in the region, it maintains that holding Israel accountable is essential to deter the alleged adventurism of the "Zionist regime."

Speaking on Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani emphasized the need to punish the aggressor and create deterrence against Israel's actions. Kanaani also called on the United States to withdraw its support for Israel and instead back the "punishment of the aggressor."

The assassination of Haniyeh, a prominent political leader of the Iranian-backed Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza, has been pinned on Israel by Tehran. However, Israel has not claimed responsibility for the incident.

In response to the assassination, Iranian acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani summoned foreign ambassadors in Tehran to reaffirm Iran's determination to retaliate against Israel. Iran has also requested an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Wednesday to discuss the killing of Haniyeh and Iran's intended response.

It is worth noting that Iran has previously launched retaliatory strikes against Israel. In April, Iran claimed that an Israeli strike on an Iranian diplomatic compound in Syria prompted their response. However, most of the weapons deployed were intercepted by Israeli air defenses with assistance from an international coalition consisting of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Jordan.

Hossein Salami, the top commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps, reiterated on Monday that Israel "will receive punishment in due time." This threat raises concerns regarding the potential escalation of tensions between the two nations.

Meanwhile, the United States has vowed to defend Israel should tensions continue to escalate. The situation remains fluid, with the international community closely watching the developments between Iran and Israel, hoping for a de-escalation of hostilities.

As Iran asserts its "legal right to punish" Israel, the region waits with bated breath to see how this standoff unfolds and whether any diplomatic measures can salvage stability in the Middle East.