Although Tehran has long supported Hamas, Iranian officials insist their country was not involved in Saturday’s militant attack on its arch-enemy, Israel.
Nevertheless, the United States fears that a second front could open up on Israel’s northern border with Lebanon if Hezbollah, another well-armed Islamist group backed by Iran, intervenes.
“Officials from some countries are approaching us and asking about the possibility of a new front opening (against Israel) in the region,” Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said during a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al Sudani. Shia Sudan).
“We tell them that our clear answer regarding future options is this: everything depends on the actions of the Zionist regime in Gaza,” he said, according to a statement from Iran’s foreign ministry.
“Even now, Israel’s crimes continue, and no one in the region asks us for permission to open new fronts,” the minister said.
Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Saturday, invading its territory and launching rocket attacks. Israel carried out retaliatory strikes on the Gaza Strip. Hamas militants killed 1.2 thousand people in Israel. people, mostly civilians, and took about 150 hostages. Israeli strikes on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip claimed more than 1,400 lives. people’s lives.
Since Saturday, the West has been cautious about Iran, but its leaders have warned Tehran in no uncertain terms against intervening in the war.
US President Joe Biden (Joe Biden) said on Wednesday that he “made it clear to the Iranians: Be careful”.
H. Amir-Abdollahian will travel to Lebanon from Iraq. Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group, said on Wednesday it had fired rockets into Israel, which shelled southern Lebanon.
There were similar reports earlier this week.
Speaking to his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi appealed to “all Islamic and Arab countries” for “serious convergence and cooperation to stop the Zionist regime’s crimes against the oppressed Palestinian people.”
Hamas is the Palestinian militant group that rules the Gaza Strip and has been involved in several wars with Israel since taking over the Gaza Strip in 2007. The group has been recognized as a terrorist by Israel, the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and some other countries.
Hamas is supported by Iran, financing the acquisition of weapons, supplying them and providing military training. Hamas has a political office in Qatar, where some of its leaders are based.
2.3 million people live in the Gaza Strip. people, but Israel, with the help of Egypt, has imposed a blockade on the territory since 2007 – it has restricted the entry of goods into the territory and their departure from it by water, sea or air, as well as the ability of the Palestinians themselves to leave the territory, except for a few tens of thousands of workers.
Israel’s military announced earlier Thursday that it was preparing for a ground offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, but the country’s political leaders have yet to make a decision.
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What are the main factors influencing Iran’s involvement in the current Middle East conflict?
**Interview with Dr. Sarah El-Fayed, Middle East Policy Expert**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. El-Fayed. The situation in the Middle East has escalated significantly in the wake of recent events. Could you provide us with an overview of the current dynamics between Israel, Hamas, and Hezbollah?
**Dr. El-Fayed:** Thank you for having me. The tension in the region is indeed palpable. Following Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel, which resulted in significant casualties and kidnappings, we’ve seen fierce retaliatory strikes from Israel targeting Gaza. This has led to a grave humanitarian crisis, with an alarming number of casualties on both sides.
**Interviewer:** Iran insists that it was not directly involved in the Hamas attack, yet the U.S. seems concerned about Iran’s influence, especially regarding Hezbollah’s potential involvement. How does Iran’s role complicate the situation?
**Dr. El-Fayed:** Iran’s position is quite intricate. Although officials claim they weren’t involved in the recent assault by Hamas, they’ve historically supported groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. The U.S. and its allies worry that Iran may leverage these groups to create a second front against Israel, particularly through Hezbollah in Lebanon. This potential escalation is a significant cause for concern, as it could widen the conflict substantially.
**Interviewer:** Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian mentioned that future options depend on Israel’s actions in Gaza. What does this indicate about Iran’s strategic approach?
**Dr. El-Fayed:** This statement reflects Iran’s intention to maintain influence and possibly control over how conflicts unfold in the region. It indicates that while they might not want a direct confrontation now, they are open to it depending on Israel’s military actions. This is a way for Iran to position itself as a defender of Palestinian rights and to rally other regional actors against Israel.
**Interviewer:** The U.S. has issued warnings to Iran against intervening in the conflict. How effective do you think these warnings will be?
**Dr. El-Fayed:** The effectiveness of U.S. warnings largely depends on Iran’s calculations regarding its support for groups like Hezbollah. Historically, Iran has shown resilience against outside pressures, but they must also consider their own national interests. If they see significant advantage or a threat from Israel, it might push them to escalate their involvement regardless of U.S. warnings.
**Interviewer:** As the conflict continues, what are the likely implications for regional stability?
**Dr. El-Fayed:** If Hezbollah escalates its actions against Israel, we could see a broader regional conflict involving multiple state and non-state actors. This would not only destabilize Lebanon but could also draw in Iran and other allies, leading to a much larger confrontation that would have dire humanitarian and political implications for the entire region.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. El-Fayed, for your insights on this complex and evolving situation. It’s a crucial time in Middle Eastern politics, and we appreciate your expertise.
**Dr. El-Fayed:** Thank you for the opportunity to discuss these important issues. We all hope for a swift resolution to the violence and a return to dialogue.