Israeli intelligence hired Iran's IRGC agents to plant bombs that killed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh

Jerusalem: The explosive device that killed the political leader of the Palestinian movement Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, was planted by the agents of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC) hired by Israel's intelligence agency, Mossad, UK newspaper The Telegraph reported, citing undisclosed sources in the IRGC.

Earlier in the week, the New York Times reported that Haniyeh was assassinated by a bomb smuggled two months prior into his room at the guesthouse in Tehran he was staying.

Three explosive devices were reportedly placed in the rooms of the IRGC guesthouse in northern Tehran where the late leader was expected to stay, the newspaper said, adding that the devices were detonated from abroad early on July 31.

"They [Iranian investigators] are now certain that Mossad hired agents from the Ansar al-Mahdi protection unit… Upon further investigation, they discovered additional explosive devices in two other rooms," an official from the IRGC told The Telegraph, referring to an IRGC unit in charge of safety of high-ranking officials.

Haniyeh’s assassination was originally scheduled for May, during his visit to the funeral of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, two Iranian officials told the newspaper, adding that the operation did not succeed due to the crowds inside the building and high failure possibility.

The assassination of the Hamas political leader is a "humiliation for Iran and a huge security breach" for the IRGC, one of the sources within the IRGC told The Telegraph, adding there is currently an internal investigation underway in the organization.

"The Supreme Leader [of Iran, Ali Khamenei,] has summoned all the commanders several times over the past two days, he wants answers. … For him, addressing the security breach is now more important than seeking revenge," another official told the newspaper.

Haniyeh was killed after he took part in the inauguration of newly elected Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Hamas has blamed Israel and the United States for Haniyeh's death and vowed to retaliate.