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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How might Hezbollah’s potential involvement change the dynamics of the Israel-Palestine conflict?
**Interview with Dr. Layla Sharif, Middle East Analyst**
**Editor**: Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Sharif. Given the recent developments in the Israel-Palestine conflict, how significant do you find Iran’s claims that it was not involved in the recent Hamas attack on Israel?
**Dr. Sharif**: Thank you for having me. Iran’s assertion is significant as it seeks to maintain a distinction between its support for Hamas and direct involvement in military actions. This could be a strategy to mitigate international backlash, particularly from the United States and its allies, while still positioning itself as a defender of Palestinian rights.
**Editor**: To what extent do you think Iran’s involvement could escalate tensions in the region, especially with Hezbollah potentially opening a second front?
**Dr. Sharif**: The concern is palpable. Iran has significant influence over Hezbollah, and while the Iranian Foreign Ministry has been cautious in its language, the possibility of Hezbollah engaging in the conflict remains. If Hezbollah decides to act, it would indeed escalate the situation dramatically, leading to a multi-front conflict that could involve broader regional actors.
**Editor**: You mentioned the implications of a broader conflict. How do you interpret Foreign Minister Abdollahian’s statements regarding Israel’s actions and possible future responses?
**Dr. Sharif**: Abdollahian’s statements are quite strategic. By framing any future actions as a reaction to Israel’s “crimes,” Iran is signaling that it will position itself as a defensive actor, which could serve to rally regional support. This also places the onus on Israel—if conflicts escalate, they can point to Israeli aggression as justification for their actions.
**Editor**: In light of President Biden’s warnings to Iran, what do you think the U.S. strategy should be moving forward?
**Dr. Sharif**: The U.S. must tread carefully. While it wants to deter Iranian involvement, it must also manage its relationship with regional allies and avoid further inflaming tensions. Diplomatic channels should remain open, and pressure must be applied on all parties to prevent escalation. Moreover, a renewed focus on addressing the humanitarian situation in Gaza could help de-escalate the broader conflict.
**Editor**: Lastly, with President Raisi appealing for unity among Islamic and Arab nations, can we expect a cohesive response from the region, or are divisions likely to persist?
**Dr. Sharif**: Divisions are likely to persist. While there may be shared concerns about Israeli actions, different priorities among Arab nations will complicate any unified front. Countries like Egypt and Jordan, for instance, have peace treaties with Israel, while others may feel compelled to respond more forcefully. It’s a complex situation that requires delicate balancing of interests among neighboring states.
**Editor**: Thank you, Dr. Sharif, for your insights on this evolving situation.
**Dr. Sharif**: Thank you for having me.
