ISTANBUL

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday received Abdusselam and Hammam Haniyeh, the sons of deceased Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated last month in Iran's capital Tehran.

During the meeting in Istanbul, Erdogan offered his condolences to Haniyeh's sons over their father's death.

Head of the Turkish Intelligence Organization Ibrahim Kalin and Chief Advisor to the President Sefer Turan were also present.

Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated on July 31, in Iranian capital Tehran. Iran and Palestinian group Hamas have blamed Israel, which has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility.

*Writing by Serdar Dincel in Istanbul