Nitin Gadkari recalls close encounter with Hamas leader before his assassination

Union minister Nitin Gadkari recently disclosed that he came face-to-face with Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran just hours before the latter was assassinated inside a heavily guarded Iranian military facility, an incident that later exposed major security lapses in Iran and rattled the region.

Gadkari made the revelation while speaking at a book launch, where he described his visit to Iran to attend the swearing-in ceremony of President Masoud Pezeshkian in July 2024. The minister said he travelled at the request of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to represent India at the event.

Recounting the timeline, Gadkari said global leaders and dignitaries had gathered at a five-star hotel in Tehran ahead of the inauguration. Among them was Haniyeh, despite the Hamas leader not holding any formal state position.