Iran has sharply criticized Israel following the assassination of Hezbollah military chief Haytham Ali Tabatabai, marking the most significant escalation in cross-border tensions since the November 2024 ceasefire. The strike in Beirut on November 23, 2025, drew immediate condemnation from Tehran, which called the act "a flagrant violation" of the truce that halted 13 months of hostilities between the two adversaries.
Tabatabai, a little-known figure publicly but instrumental in Hezbollah's post-war restructuring, became the highest-ranking casualty from the group since the ceasefire. Iranian Foreign Ministry officials emphasized the attack breached Lebanon's sovereignty, warning it could destabilize regional security.
Israel has conducted multiple operations in Lebanon this year, citing ongoing threats from Hezbollah. Analysts note Tehran's influence over the group has waned following Syria's political shifts and recent Israeli-U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities during a 12-day conflict earlier in 2025. The killing underscores fragile peace dynamics as Middle Eastern powers navigate post-ceasefire power balances.
