Hamas' Haniyeh to visit Iran

The Hamas prime minister in Gaza, Ismail Haniya, is on Friday to make a visit to Iran, which is celebrating the anniversary of its 1979 Islamic revolution, Iranian government officials said.

The Palestinian leader was to be received by Iranian Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi, the officials said, without giving other details or the duration of the visit.

Media said Haniya would hold talks with Iranian officials and receive an honorary degree from Tehran University.

But sources close to Haniya, currently on a tour of Arab states in the Gulf, could not confirm the visit, which the Palestinian daily Al-Quds said leaders in the Gulf were urging him to call off because of their strained ties with Tehran.

I wonder what the honorary degree will be in. Murder? Terror? Extortion? Ruthlessness?

Haniyeh's visit coincides with Iran's celebrations of the anniversary of the revolutionaries declaring victory over the Shah.

His current tour includes Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain.

I imagine he'll be returning with a suitcase full of cash. If it is in Iranian rials, he'd better spend it quickly.