Iran on Tuesday rejected Western calls to stand down its threat to retaliate against "Israel" for the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran late last month.

 

"The declaration by France, Germany and Britain, which raised no objection to the international crimes of the Zionist regime, brazenly asks Iran to take no deterrent action against a regime which has violated its sovereignty and territorial integrity," foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said in a statement – cited by Agence France-Presse (AFP).

 

"Such a request lacks political logic, flies in the face of the principles and rules of international law, and constitutes public and practical support for Israel," the statement added.

 

Read more: Strike against “Israel” inevitable, say Houthis

 

Iran’s attack against “Israel” could last three to four days and to be carried out by surprise – said an Iranian official per Iran International citing an interview published by Iran Watch.

 

Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani, a member of the Iranian Parliament's National Security Commission, said that Iran “is certainly prepared for the consequences of such an attack and will be ready for any subsequent developments."

 

The Iranian response will "be carried out by surprise and may even last three to four days,” added Ardestani.

 

He revealed that the only situation in which Iran would not retaliate against “Israel” for Haniyeh’s killing is Hamas accepting any Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal.

 

“It is unlikely that the two sides will reach such an agreement in the future, and for this reason, the Islamic Republic will not let go of the bloodshed of Martyr Haniyeh,” Ardestani said, citing the current state of prolonged negotiations between the two parties.

 

In the interview, he warned that “bloodshed would be carried out” to the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. "Therefore, Iran's response to this crime of the Zionist regime will be definitive and there is no doubt about it."