Although Tehran has long supported Israel hits Hamas targets in Gaza after shells fired from the strip”>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 does Iran’s historical support for groups like Hamas impact its current geopolitical strategy?
**Interview with Dr. Leila Tehranian, Middle East Analyst**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Tehranian. With the recent surge in violence following Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel, how significant is Iran’s involvement or lack thereof in this particular conflict?
**Dr. Tehranian:** Thank you for having me. It’s important to clarify that while Iran has historically supported Hamas, Iranian officials insist that they were not involved in this latest attack on Israel. This distinction may be an attempt to maintain plausible deniability while still showing solidarity with Palestinian groups. However, Iran’s rhetoric and their historical influence cannot be overlooked.
**Interviewer:** With the U.S. expressing concerns about a potential second front involving Hezbollah in Lebanon, what do you think is at stake if hostilities spread beyond Gaza?
**Dr. Tehranian:** The stakes are incredibly high. Should Hezbollah decide to intervene, it could lead to a wider regional conflict, involving multiple nations and groups. Iran’s Foreign Minister Amir Abdollahian indicated that future actions depend on Israel’s conduct in Gaza, which suggests that any escalation would be reactive. The U.S. response to such a development would greatly impact stability in the Middle East.
**Interviewer:** Foreign Minister Abdollahian mentioned that “no one in the region asks us for permission to open new fronts.” What does this imply about Iran’s current regional influence?
**Dr. Tehranian:** It reflects Iran’s confidence and its unique position as a major player in regional geopolitics. While they may not control these groups directly, Iran certainly influences their actions and strategies. This statement also indicates Iran’s perception of itself as a defender of Palestinian rights, which resonates in the broader Islamic world, especially in the face of Israeli operations.
**Interviewer:** President Biden has warned Iran to “be careful.” How effective do you think the U.S. can be in deterring Iranian influence in the current situation?
**Dr. Tehranian:** The U.S. holds significant leverage through sanctions and military support for Israel, but its ability to deter Iran is limited, especially given Iran’s entrenched relationships with groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. Diplomatic efforts are crucial, but there is a fine line between deterrence and escalation. The situation remains volatile, and could easily spiral out of control.
**Interviewer:** with Iranian President Raisi calling for regional cooperation against “Zionist crimes,” how do you see regional dynamics shifting in response to this conflict?
**Dr. Tehranian:** Raisi is tapping into a strong sentiment among many Arab and Islamic nations, which could lead to increased unity against Israel—theoretically uniting various factions. However, the reality is complex; not all countries support armed conflict, and many are focused on internal issues. The real challenge is whether this call for solidarity translates into concrete action or remains a symbolic stance.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Tehranian, for your insights. The situation remains fluid, and we appreciate your analysis.
**Dr. Tehranian:** Thank you for having me. It’s a critical time for the region, and we must continue to watch these developments closely.
