Although Tehran has long supported Hamas, Iranian officials say 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 are telling 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 purchase 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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How can international diplomacy effectively address the escalating tensions in the Middle East?
**Interview with Dr. Sarah Lichtenstein, Middle East Political Analyst**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us, Dr. Lichtenstein. With the recent escalation of conflict involving Israel and Iran, can you provide some context on the significance of these military strikes?
**Dr. Lichtenstein:** Thank you for having me. The recent Israeli strikes on Iran, Iraq, and Syria represent a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions in the region. Israel claims these actions are aimed at countering Iran’s influence and military presence, particularly in relation to groups like Hezbollah and Hamas. The timing is crucial as it coincides with heightened fears about a two-front war opening against Israel.
**Interviewer:** The Iranian foreign minister recently stated that future actions depend on what Israel does in Gaza. How should we interpret this statement?
**Dr. Lichtenstein:** This statement reflects Iran’s position that its involvement in regional conflicts is largely reactive. They are indicating that any further escalation will depend directly on Israel’s actions in Gaza. This suggests a potential for increased involvement from Iranian-linked groups if they perceive Israel’s operations as excessive or aggressive.
**Interviewer:** There have been concerns from the U.S. about Iran potentially opening a new front in the north with Hezbollah. What do you think this means for regional stability?
**Dr. Lichtenstein:** The U.S. is right to be cautious. Hezbollah is a powerful actor in Lebanon, and its involvement could lead to a larger regional conflagration. If Hezbollah jumps in, we could see a significant military response from Israel, potentially drawing in Iran directly. This is a worrying scenario for stability in the Middle East, as it risks a wider war affecting multiple countries and civilian populations.
**Interviewer:** Following the recent violence, what are the prospects for peace or de-escalation in the region?
**Dr. Lichtenstein:** Unfortunately, the prospects for peace are quite bleak at the moment. The cycle of retaliation seems to be perpetuating itself. Both Israel and Iran are determined to protect their interests, and with strong rhetoric from leaders on both sides, finding common ground is increasingly difficult. Moreover, broader international diplomatic efforts are hampered by the polarized environment.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for your insights, Dr. Lichtenstein. It seems we are at a critical juncture in this complex conflict.
**Dr. Lichtenstein:** Indeed, it is a critical time, and I appreciate the opportunity to discuss these important issues.
