Hezbollah on Friday (Nov 28) said that it has the right to respond to Israel's military strikes that assassinated the group's military chief, Haytham Ali Tabtaba, in the Lebanese capital, Beirut's suburbs, last week. In a televised speech, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem called the killing of Tabtabai "a blatant aggression and a heinous crime", adding that his group had "the right to respond, and we will determine the timing for that".&nbsp;Haytham Ali Tabatabai was the most senior commander from the Iran-backed group to be killed by Israel since a November 2024 truce sought to end more than a year of hostilities between the two sides. The strikes on Sunday were part of Israel's intensifying attacks on Lebanon, with the United States pushing the government to disarm the group and choke off the sources of funding of Hezbollah.&nbsp;Iran criticised Tabatabai's assassinations and termed them "cowardly." Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps said, "The right of the Axis of Resistance and Lebanese Hezbollah to avenge the blood of the brave fighters of Islam is unquestionable."&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/don-t-want-foreign-envoys-to-comment-on-poll-violence-tanzania-1764350089243">Don’t want foreign envoys to comment on poll violence: Tanzania</a>&nbsp;Hundreds of supporters of Hezbollah joined the funeral procession of Tabatabai and his two aids on Monday in Beirut's densely packed suburbs, where the group commands significant popularity among locals.&nbsp;The Israel–Hezbollah conflict has sharply escalated following Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and subsequent invasion of Gaza by the Israel Defence Forces, along with targeted strikes on Hamas' allies in the region, including Lebanon-based Hezbollah, pushing the Middle East to one of its most dangerous points since the 2006 war. Tensions surged after Israel intensified strikes across Lebanon, targeting command centres, rocket sites and senior leaders of Hezbollah.&nbsp;In September 2024, the most significant escalation came with the killing of Hassan Nasrallah, the long-time chief of Hezbollah, in an Israeli air raid that levelled multiple apartment blocks in Beirut. Israel also eliminated top military commanders, aiming to weaken Hezbollah’s operational structure. In response, Hezbollah launched a barrage of rockets and drones across northern Israel, displacing thousands and drawing warnings from global powers about the risk of a wider regional war.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-hastily-adopted-un-concerned-by-pakistan-s-constitutional-amendments-and-immunity-provisions-1764348893920">'Hastily adopted': UN concerned by Pakistan's constitutional amendments and immunity provisions</a>&nbsp;A ceasefire agreement was implemented between Israel and Hezbollah on November 27, 2024, brokered by the United States and France. The recent strikes by Israel killing Haytham Ali Tabatabai mark the most significant escalation between Israel and the Iran-backed group since the 2024 truce.&nbsp;

Haytham Ali Tabatabai was the most senior commander from the Iran-backed group to be killed by Israel since a November 2024 truce sought to end more than a year of hostilities between the two sides.

Hezbollah on Friday (Nov 28) said that it has the right to respond to Israel's military strikes that assassinated the group's military chief, Haytham Ali Tabtaba, in the Lebanese capital, Beirut's suburbs, last week. In a televised speech, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem called the killing of Tabtabai "a blatant aggression and a heinous crime", adding that his group had "the right to respond, and we will determine the timing for that". Haytham Ali Tabatabai was the most senior commander from the Iran-backed group to be killed by Israel since a November 2024 truce sought to end more than a year of hostilities between the two sides. The strikes on Sunday were part of Israel's intensifying attacks on Lebanon, with the United States pushing the government to disarm the group and choke off the sources of funding of Hezbollah. Iran criticised Tabatabai's assassinations and termed them "cowardly." Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps said, "The right of the Axis of Resistance and Lebanese Hezbollah to avenge the blood of the brave fighters of Islam is unquestionable." Also Read: Don’t want foreign envoys to comment on poll violence: Tanzania Hundreds of supporters of Hezbollah joined the funeral procession of Tabatabai and his two aids on Monday in Beirut's densely packed suburbs, where the group commands significant popularity among locals. The Israel–Hezbollah conflict has sharply escalated following Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and subsequent invasion of Gaza by the Israel Defence Forces, along with targeted strikes on Hamas' allies in the region, including Lebanon-based Hezbollah, pushing the Middle East to one of its most dangerous points since the 2006 war. Tensions surged after Israel intensified strikes across Lebanon, targeting command centres, rocket sites and senior leaders of Hezbollah. In September 2024, the most significant escalation came with the killing of Hassan Nasrallah, the long-time chief of Hezbollah, in an Israeli air raid that levelled multiple apartment blocks in Beirut. Israel also eliminated top military commanders, aiming to weaken Hezbollah’s operational structure. In response, Hezbollah launched a barrage of rockets and drones across northern Israel, displacing thousands and drawing warnings from global powers about the risk of a wider regional war. Also Read: 'Hastily adopted': UN concerned by Pakistan's constitutional amendments and immunity provisions A ceasefire agreement was implemented between Israel and Hezbollah on November 27, 2024, brokered by the United States and France. The recent strikes by Israel killing Haytham Ali Tabatabai mark the most significant escalation between Israel and the Iran-backed group since the 2024 truce.

Haytham Ali Tabatabai was the most senior commander from the Iran-backed group to be killed by Israel since a November 2024 truce sought to end more than a year of hostilities between the two sides.

Hezbollah asserts its ‘right to respond’ after Israel assassinates group’s military chief

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Wednesday (Nov 12) urged Iran to allow it to verify its inventories of highly enriched uranium. Calling it a matter of serious concern, the agency revealed that it has not been able to verify the exact state of Iran's near weapon-grade stockpile since Israel's strike on the country's nuclear facilities during its 12-day war in June, according to a confidential report by the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog circulated to member States and seen by AFP.&nbsp;The tensions between Iran and the Nuclear Watchdog have been aggravated in recent years, with relations further deteriorating following the 12-day war in June, when Israel and the United States targeted Iranian nuclear sites.&nbsp;In its latest report, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it "has lost continuity of knowledge in relation to previously declared inventories of nuclear material in Iran at the affected facilities", including its stockpile of near-weapons-grade uranium.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-not-if-they-say-we-will-bomb-you-pezeshkian-says-iran-seeks-peace-but-won-t-abandon-nuke-prgramme-1762537100549">‘Not if they say we will bomb you’: Pezeshkian says Iran seeks peace, but won’t abandon nuke programme</a>&nbsp;As per the IAEA, &nbsp;as of June 13, Iran maintains an estimated 440.9 kilograms enriched to up to 60 per cent, just a step away from the weapons-grade level of 90 per cent. &nbsp;It further said Iran is the only country without nuclear weapons to enrich uranium to 60 per cent.&nbsp;The stockpile allows it to make as many as 10 nuclear bombs. However, Iran has long insisted its program is peaceful, but the IAEA and Western nations say Tehran had an organised nuclear weapons program up until 2003.&nbsp;Nuclear talks between Iran and world powers are currently stalled. A now-defunct 2015 deal curbed Tehran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/military-rule-2-0-pakistan-enacts-27th-amendment-army-chief-gains-lifelong-immunity-and-expanded-powers-shahbaz-sharif-nawaz-sharif-asim-munir-1762955753702">Military rule 2.0: Pakistan enacts 27th Amendment; Army chief gains lifelong immunity and expanded powers</a>&nbsp;In May 2018, during his first term, President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal. The agreement was originally signed in 2015 between Iran and six world powers (US, UK, France, Russia, China, and Germany), was aimed at limiting Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for lifting international sanctions.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The IAEA reported it has lost track of Iran’s uranium stockpile since June, with enrichment at 60 per cent, raising fears of nuclear weapons development amid stalled negotiations and heightened international tensions.


The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Wednesday (Nov 12) urged Iran to allow it to verify its inventories of highly enriched uranium. Calling it a matter of serious concern, the agency revealed that it has not been able to verify the exact state of Iran's near weapon-grade stockpile since Israel's strike on the country's nuclear facilities during its 12-day war in June, according to a confidential report by the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog circulated to member States and seen by AFP. The tensions between Iran and the Nuclear Watchdog have been aggravated in recent years, with relations further deteriorating following the 12-day war in June, when Israel and the United States targeted Iranian nuclear sites. In its latest report, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it "has lost continuity of knowledge in relation to previously declared inventories of nuclear material in Iran at the affected facilities", including its stockpile of near-weapons-grade uranium. Also Read: ‘Not if they say we will bomb you’: Pezeshkian says Iran seeks peace, but won’t abandon nuke programme As per the IAEA, as of June 13, Iran maintains an estimated 440.9 kilograms enriched to up to 60 per cent, just a step away from the weapons-grade level of 90 per cent. It further said Iran is the only country without nuclear weapons to enrich uranium to 60 per cent. The stockpile allows it to make as many as 10 nuclear bombs. However, Iran has long insisted its program is peaceful, but the IAEA and Western nations say Tehran had an organised nuclear weapons program up until 2003. Nuclear talks between Iran and world powers are currently stalled. A now-defunct 2015 deal curbed Tehran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. Also Read: Military rule 2.0: Pakistan enacts 27th Amendment; Army chief gains lifelong immunity and expanded powers In May 2018, during his first term, President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal. The agreement was originally signed in 2015 between Iran and six world powers (US, UK, France, Russia, China, and Germany), was aimed at limiting Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for lifting international sanctions.

The IAEA reported it has lost track of Iran’s uranium stockpile since June, with enrichment at 60 per cent, raising fears of nuclear weapons development amid stalled negotiations and heightened international tensions. &nbsp;

Iran close to nuclear weapons? UN watchdog unable to verify stockpile since June

The United States and Qatar have reportedly reached an agreement to restrict Iran from accessing the $6 billion transferred recently as part of a deal between Washington and Tehran that led to the release of five imprisoned Americans from Iran last month.

Wally Adeyemo, the deputy treasury secretary, informed House Democrats on Thursday (Oct 12) that Iran would no longer be able to access these funds.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/five-american-detainees-fly-out-of-iran-in-swap-deal-after-6-billion-unfrozen-637211">US and Iran swap prisoners after Qatar-brokered deal unfreezes $6 billion of Iranian oil money</a>

This development comes amid criticism, primarily from Republicans and former US president Donald Trump, who stated that the Biden administration's move allowed Iran to free up other funds for potential support to Hamas, and enabled the weekend's deadly attack on Israel by the Gaza-based militant group.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/five-americans-freed-by-iran-land-in-us-after-prisoner-swap-deal-report-637522">Five Americans, two Iranians freed in prisoner swap deal land in home countries</a>

While Biden administration has stated that there is no direct evidence of Iranian involvement in Hamas attack on Israel, Tehran's longstanding backing to Hamas as well as Lebanon-based Hezbollah have raised questions on the credibility of Biden administration's clean chit to Iran in relation to the ongoing state of war in Israel.

<h2>What next?</h2>

It remains unclear whether the Biden administration intends to permanently cut off these funds or is taking an interim step to gather more information about Iran's potential connection with Hamas' latest offensive against Israel.&nbsp;

Also watch |&nbsp;US unlocks $6 billion for prisoner swap with Iran; US-Iran financial transactions under close watch&nbsp;

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However, the decision is expected to upset Tehran since the prisoner swap process has already concluded.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken did not confirm the denial of access to the funds to Iran. Blinken, however, pointed out that the money transferred to Qatar had not been accessed or spent by Iran.

The money was originally transferred from South Korean banks as part of the prisoner exchange agreement. However, Iran faced difficulties accessing it due to concerns about US sanctions. As part of the deal, the funds were shifted to banks in Qatar to allow Iran to use them.

<h2>What is the bottom-line?</h2>

The latest development reflects a change in the Biden administration's stance after its previous assertions that these funds were not being used by Tehran to support Hamas' &nbsp;attack on Israel.

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The United States and Qatar have reportedly reached an agreement to restrict Iran from accessing the $6 billion transferred recently as part of a deal between Washington and Tehran that led to the release of five imprisoned Americans from Iran last month.

The United States and Qatar have reportedly reached an agreement to restrict Iran from accessing the $6 billion transferred recently as part of a deal between Washington and Tehran that led to the release of five imprisoned Americans from Iran last month. Wally Adeyemo, the deputy treasury secretary, informed House Democrats on Thursday (Oct 12) that Iran would no longer be able to access these funds. Also read | US and Iran swap prisoners after Qatar-brokered deal unfreezes $6 billion of Iranian oil money This development comes amid criticism, primarily from Republicans and former US president Donald Trump, who stated that the Biden administration's move allowed Iran to free up other funds for potential support to Hamas, and enabled the weekend's deadly attack on Israel by the Gaza-based militant group. Also read | Five Americans, two Iranians freed in prisoner swap deal land in home countries While Biden administration has stated that there is no direct evidence of Iranian involvement in Hamas attack on Israel, Tehran's longstanding backing to Hamas as well as Lebanon-based Hezbollah have raised questions on the credibility of Biden administration's clean chit to Iran in relation to the ongoing state of war in Israel. What next? It remains unclear whether the Biden administration intends to permanently cut off these funds or is taking an interim step to gather more information about Iran's potential connection with Hamas' latest offensive against Israel. Also watch | US unlocks $6 billion for prisoner swap with Iran; US-Iran financial transactions under close watch × However, the decision is expected to upset Tehran since the prisoner swap process has already concluded. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken did not confirm the denial of access to the funds to Iran. Blinken, however, pointed out that the money transferred to Qatar had not been accessed or spent by Iran. The money was originally transferred from South Korean banks as part of the prisoner exchange agreement. However, Iran faced difficulties accessing it due to concerns about US sanctions. As part of the deal, the funds were shifted to banks in Qatar to allow Iran to use them. What is the bottom-line? The latest development reflects a change in the Biden administration's stance after its previous assertions that these funds were not being used by Tehran to support Hamas' attack on Israel. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Support to Hamas feared? US blocks Iran's access to $6bn from prisoner swap deal

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Hezbollah asserts its ‘right to respond’ after Israel assassinates group’s military chief

Iran close to nuclear weapons? UN watchdog unable to verify stockpile since June

Support to Hamas feared? US blocks Iran's access to $6bn from prisoner swap deal