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 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 for our 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 restricted the import of goods to and from the territory 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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### Interview with Dr. Elham Jafari, Middle East Analyst
**Editor**: Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Jafari. Given the recent escalation in violence following Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel, what is Iran’s official stance regarding its involvement?
**Dr. Jafari**: Thank you for having me. Iranian officials have been quite clear; they assert that while they have historically supported Hamas, they were not directly involved in the recent attacks. Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian emphasized that any future actions depend solely on Israel’s behavior in Gaza.
**Editor**: The U.S. has raised concerns about potential intervention from Hezbollah in Lebanon, essentially opening a second front against Israel. How likely is this scenario?
**Dr. Jafari**: The possibility of Hezbollah joining the fray cannot be ruled out, especially given the group’s expressed solidarity with Hamas. However, Abdollahian’s remarks suggest that Iran is trying to navigate a careful path, indicating that the situation is contingent upon Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
**Editor**: There are reports of ongoing exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israel. Does this signal an escalation, or could it be strategic signaling?
**Dr. Jafari**: It is likely a mix of both. Hezbollah’s rocket attacks can be viewed as a signal of support for Hamas, but also as a strategic move to deter Israeli actions. Both sides are likely assessing each other’s responses before escalating further.
**Editor**: With President Biden warning Iran to “be careful”, how is the international community reacting to Tehran’s role in the conflict?
**Dr. Jafari**: The West is definitely on high alert. The U.S. is monitoring Iran closely, trying to prevent any regional escalation. There is a palpable sense of caution, but also a recognition that Iran’s support for groups like Hamas and Hezbollah complicates the situation.
**Editor**: what do you foresee happening in the region if tensions continue to rise?
**Dr. Jafari**: If the violence escalates further, we could see increased military engagement not just from Israel and Hamas, but potentially from Hezbollah as well. The consequences would be profound, affecting not just these groups but the entire Middle Eastern geopolitical landscape. It’s a delicate situation, and one that could quickly spiral out of control if diplomatic avenues are not pursued.
**Editor**: Thank you, Dr. Jafari, for your insights on this complex and evolving situation.