Iranian president says US ‘can’t deny complicity’ in death of Hezbollah leader

Iran 's president suggested the United States bears responsibility for the assassination of Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in an Israeli air strike on Friday.

Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian said the U.S. "cannot deny complicity" in Nasrallah's killing, according to state media. The strike killed Nasrallah and an Iranian Revolutionary Guard deputy commander.

There's concern that Nasrallah's killing could lead to a wider regional war between Israel and Iran and its proxies in the Middle East. If such a war started, the U.S. would almost inevitably become involved by providing additional support to Israel.

President Joe Biden released a statement the day after Nasrallah's death, seeing the Hezbollah leader's death as "justice" for many Americans, Israelis, and Lebanese citizens.

"Hassan Nasrallah and the terrorist group he led, Hezbollah, were responsible for killing hundreds of Americans over a four-decade reign of terror," Biden said. "His death from an Israeli airstrike is a measure of justice for his many victims, including thousands of Americans, Israelis, and Lebanese civilians."

Tensions have risen in the past few weeks, defined by Israel's strike on Hezbollah's headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon, on Friday. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been moved to a secure location within the country with added security in place. It's likely the leader was moved with fears that Israel could strike him next, and take down another leader representing their enemies.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the U.S. did not have any advanced warning of Israel's strike in Lebanon's capital of Beirut. Austin spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant on Friday and "expressed full support for Israel's right to defend itself and its people against Iranian-backed terrorist groups."

"Secretary Austin stressed that the United States is determined to prevent Iran and Iranian-backed partners and proxies from exploiting the situation or expanding the conflict," a Pentagon readout said. "The Secretary made it clear that the United States remains postured to protect U.S. forces and facilities in the region and committed to the defense of Israel."

The U.S. State Department has evacuated non-mission-employed eligible family members from Lebanon and non-essential U.S. direct hire employees.

The strike on Nasrallah is a continuation of Israel's bombing in Lebanon as they fight with terrorist organization Hezbollah . The conflict has taken the lives of at least 1,030 people, according to Lebanon's health ministry, since Israel began escalating their strikes in the country.

Hamas mourned the death of Hezbollah's leader on Saturday and suggested it would strengthen their resolve against Israel.

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"Crimes and assassination by the occupation will only increase the determination and the insistence of the resistance in Palestine and Lebanon to go forward with all their might, bravery and pride on the footsteps of the martyrs...and pursue the path of resistance until victory and the dismissal of the occupation," Hamas said in a statement.

Israel's current war against Hamas will see its first anniversary on Oct. 7, the day in which Hamas infiltrated Israel and killed nearly 1,200 civilians last year.