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 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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How might Iran’s relationships with regional allies affect the outcome of the current conflict involving Israel and Hamas?
**Interview with Foreign Policy Expert Dr. Miriam Rahimi on Iran’s Position Amid Escalating Tensions in the Middle East**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Rahimi. We’ve seen a significant escalation in tensions following the recent Hamas attack on Israel. Iran has historically supported Hamas, yet officials have claimed that they were not involved in this latest assault. Can you explain Iran’s position?
**Dr. Rahimi:** Certainly. Iran has been a long-time supporter of Hamas, providing them with political, financial, and military backing. However, Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, have emphasized that Tehran was not directly involved in the recent attack on Israel. They seem to want to distance themselves while also asserting that their support for groups like Hamas remains unchanged.
**Interviewer:** With the specter of Hezbollah’s involvement looming, what are the implications for Israel and its Northern border?
**Dr. Rahimi:** The situation is precarious. The U.S. Intelligence community is concerned that if Hezbollah chooses to open a second front against Israel from Lebanon, it could drastically alter the conflict dynamics. Iran has hinted that their response depends largely on Israel’s actions in Gaza. This creates a dangerous cycle of escalation, where any aggressive move by Israel could provoke a response from both Hamas and Hezbollah.
**Interviewer:** The recent rhetoric from U.S. President Biden, warning Iran to “be careful,” signals a cautious stance from the U.S. What does this mean for U.S.-Iran relations?
**Dr. Rahimi:** Biden’s warning serves to reinforce the U.S. commitment to its allies in the region while trying to deter Iranian aggression. However, it also highlights the delicate balance the U.S. must maintain. On one hand, they want to support Israel, but on the other hand, they recognize that escalation could lead to broader regional conflicts, complicating an already tense landscape.
**Interviewer:** Iran’s President Raisi called for a convergence of Islamic and Arab countries to support Palestinians. How do you see this playing out among Arab states?
**Dr. Rahimi:** The call for unity among Islamic nations reflects Iran’s desire to position itself as a leader in the Palestinian cause, but there’s a complexity to this. Many Arab states maintain relations with Israel and are often wary of Iran’s ambitions in the region. While there may be some degree of solidarity with the Palestinian plight, countries like Egypt, Jordan, and the Gulf states may be hesitant to align too closely with Iran, considering their own national interests.
**Interviewer:** As a final thought, what should we be watching for in the coming days and weeks?
**Dr. Rahimi:** Keep an eye on how Hezbollah responds to the ongoing conflict and whether they escalate their involvement. Also, monitor Iran’s diplomatic engagement with regional allies and their messaging regarding future military support to groups like Hamas. The situation is highly fluid, and any miscalculation could lead to wider regional conflict. It’s important for the international community to tread carefully in these tumultuous times.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for your insights, Dr. Rahimi. We appreciate your expertise as we navigate this complex situation.
