South Africa condemned the targeted assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Tehran on Wednesday, Anadolu Agency reports.

The group’s political bureau chief was in the Iranian capital to attend the inauguration of President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Pretoria said it is concerned that the killing of Haniyeh and the continuous targeting of civilians in Gaza will further spiral the already tense situation in the entire region.

“South Africa urges that a thorough investigation be conducted and calls on all parties to exercise the utmost restraint to avoid any acts that would escalate tensions in the particularly fragile region,’’ the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“Such acts of extrajudicial killings violate international law and the principles of human rights, undermining global efforts to promote peace and stability in the Middle East,” said Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola.