UNITED NATIONS (Dispatches) -- Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations says Tehran’s response to Israel’s assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh is “a matter totally unrelated” to a new bid to broker a ceasefire in the 10-month Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.
“However, we hope that our response will be timed and conducted in a manner not to the detriment of the potential ceasefire,” the mission said when asked if Iran could delay its retaliation until after Gaza ceasefire talks next week.
The United States, Egypt and Qatar on Thursday called on the Zionist regime and Hamas to meet for negotiations on Aug. 15 in Doha or Cairo to finalize a Gaza ceasefire and captive release deal. Israel has said it would attend, while a Hamas official told Reuters the group was “studying” the new offer for talks.
“Our priority is to establish a lasting ceasefire in Gaza; any agreement accepted by Hamas will also be recognized by us,” Iran’s UN mission in New York said.
“The Israeli regime has violated our national security and 

sovereignty through its recent act of terrorism. We have the legitimate right to self-defense - a matter totally unrelated to the Gaza ceasefire,” it said.
Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations also talked about the existing channels of communication between Iran and the United States.
“There have always been direct and intermediary official channels for the transmission of messages between Iran and the United States,” it said.