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 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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What are the potential regional implications of Iran’s reported influence on Hezbollah in the context of recent conflicts?
**Interview with Dr. Laila Amin, Middle East Affairs Expert**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Amin. Given the recent escalation in violence following Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel, what can you tell us about Iran’s official stance on its involvement?
**Dr. Amin:** Thank you for having me. It’s crucial to understand that while Iran has historically supported Hamas as part of its broader resistance strategy against Israel, Iranian officials have categorically stated that they were not involved in the recent attack. Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian emphasized that Iran’s future actions depend largely on Israel’s conduct in Gaza [[1](https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/israel-hamas-haniyeh-iran-tensions-08-01-24-intl-hnk/index.html)].
**Interviewer:** There seems to be a significant concern about a broader regional conflict, particularly involving Hezbollah in Lebanon. What are the implications of this?
**Dr. Amin:** Absolutely, the potential for a second front opening in Lebanon is a serious concern. The U.S. is particularly wary of Iran’s influence through Hezbollah, which has already conducted rocket fire into Israel. Abdollahian has been approached by various nations about the possibility of further escalation, indicating that the situation is delicate and unstable [[1](https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/israel-hamas-haniyeh-iran-tensions-08-01-24-intl-hnk/index.html)].
**Interviewer:** How has the U.S. responded to these developments, particularly concerning Iran’s role and potential actions?
**Dr. Amin:** U.S. officials, including President Biden, have conveyed a clear warning to Iran to tread carefully. This reflects a broader strategy of containment aimed at preventing further Iranian intervention in the ongoing conflict. The U.S. is concerned that any major involvement by Iran could further destabilize the region [[1](https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/israel-hamas-haniyeh-iran-tensions-08-01-24-intl-hnk/index.html)].
**Interviewer:** What might the future hold for this complex situation?
**Dr. Amin:** The future is uncertain but hinges on how both sides manage their military responses. Iran’s call for cooperation among Islamic and Arab countries reflects its desire to position itself as a leader in the fight against Israel, but it remains to be seen how this will translate into action on the ground. The humanitarian toll is already profound, as both sides have suffered significant casualties [[1](https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/israel-hamas-haniyeh-iran-tensions-08-01-24-intl-hnk/index.html)]. The potential for a wider conflict is very real, and we must continue to monitor how these dynamics unfold.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Amin, for your insights into this critical and evolving situation.
**Dr. Amin:** Thank you for having me. It’s essential to stay informed about these developments as they affect not just the Middle East but the global community at large.