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 wary of Iran, but its leaders have warned Tehran in no uncertain terms against intervening in the war.
US President 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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How might the U.S. response affect Iran’s strategy in the Middle East amidst escalating tensions?
**Interview with Dr. Sara Alavi, Middle East Analyst**
**Host:** Welcome, Dr. Alavi. Thank you for joining us today. The situation in the Middle East has escalated significantly following Hamas’s recent attack on Israel and the subsequent Israeli airstrikes on Gaza. Let’s start with Iran’s position. Although Tehran supports Hamas, Iranian officials claim they were not involved in the attack. How credible do you find this statement?
**Dr. Alavi:** Thank you for having me. Iran’s support for Hamas has been longstanding and deeply embedded in their foreign policy. However, their official stance of non-involvement in the recent attack may be an attempt to distance themselves from the direct consequences of the escalation, especially in light of international scrutiny. There’s a careful balancing act here; Iran wishes to maintain its influence in the region without igniting direct conflict with Israel or risking further sanctions from the West.
**Host:** That’s an interesting perspective. There’s also concern about Hezbollah potentially opening a second front against Israel. Iran’s Foreign Minister has indicated that whether this happens depends on Israel’s actions in Gaza. What do you think his comments suggest about Iran’s strategy?
**Dr. Alavi:** Indeed, Foreign Minister Amir Abdollahian’s remarks reveal a calculated approach. By framing it as dependent on Israel’s actions, Iran is effectively giving itself a degree of plausible deniability while keeping the door open for a response if they deem it necessary. This suggests that Iran is assessing the situation closely and may decide to escalate if they see Israel’s actions as excessively aggressive or threatening to their interests and allies in the region, particularly Hamas.
**Host:** Following the recent violence, there’s been a strong warning from the U.S. to Iran about intervening in the conflict. President Biden made it clear: “Be careful.” How do you interpret this warning in the context of U.S. foreign policy?
**Dr. Alavi:** The U.S. has historically aimed to contain Iranian influence in the region, especially regarding its support for militant groups like Hezbollah and Hamas. Biden’s warning serves two purposes: a deterrent to Iran and a signal to Israel that the U.S. stands firmly with them. However, it also reflects a broader strategy of managing regional conflicts without direct U.S. military involvement, which could unleash further instability.
**Host:** Meanwhile, Hezbollah has begun firing rockets into Israel, prompting Israeli shelling on southern Lebanon. What are the implications of this escalation for the broader region?
**Dr. Alavi:** The involvement of Hezbollah marks a critical turning point that could lead to a wider conflict. If Hezbollah decides to escalate its military involvement against Israel, we could see a situation spiral out of control, possibly drawing in other regional players and affecting the delicate balance of power. It may also lead to heavy civilian casualties, both in Lebanon and Israel, further inflaming tensions and anti-Israel sentiments in the region.
**Host:** Lastly, Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi has called for regional unity against what he describes as “Zionist crimes.” How effective do you think such calls for unity among Islamic and Arab countries will be in the current climate?
**Dr. Alavi:** While these calls can resonate in the short term, the reality is that regional politics are complicated. Historical rivalries, differing national interests, and priorities often dilute such initiatives. Moreover, while there is sympathy for the Palestinian cause across the Arab world, many countries are hesitant to fully align with Iran given its controversial regional actions and the ongoing threat perceptions from both Israel and the U.S.
**Host:** Thank you, Dr. Alavi, for your insights on this complex and evolving situation. Your analysis sheds light on the intricate dynamics at play in the Middle East.
**Dr. Alavi:** Thank you for having me. It’s indeed a critical time for the region, and we must continue to monitor how these events unfold.