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 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 the current tensions between Israel and Hamas affect U.S.-Iran relations moving forward?
**Interview with Dr. Sarah Al-Mansour, Middle East Analyst**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us, Dr. Al-Mansour. With the recent escalation in violence between Hamas and Israel, Iranian officials are maintaining their claim of non-involvement in the attacks on Israel. What does this indicate about Iran’s role in the broader regional conflict?
**Dr. Al-Mansour:** Thank you for having me. Iran’s denial of involvement in Hamas’s latest attack on Israel is a strategic move, signaling a desire to avoid direct confrontation while still exercising influence over groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. By distancing themselves from the immediate violence, Iran can continue to position itself as a supporter of Palestinian resistance without directly risking escalation that might involve them militarily.
**Interviewer:** The U.S. has expressed concern over a possible second front opening with Hezbollah. How significant is this threat?
**Dr. Al-Mansour:** It’s a very real concern. Hezbollah is well-armed and has the capacity for significant military engagement. The situation is precarious; if they decide to intervene in support of Hamas, it could lead to a multifaceted conflict involving not just Israel and Hamas, but also Iran and its proxies in the region, particularly Hezbollah. This would complicate an already volatile situation.
**Interviewer:** Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian mentioned that future actions depend on Israel’s behavior in Gaza. How should we interpret this statement?
**Dr. Al-Mansour:** This statement can be seen as a warning but also a promise of potential support for Palestinian groups depending on how Israel proceeds. It underscores Iran’s conditional involvement—if Israel escalates its actions further in Gaza, we could see Iran mobilizing its allies to respond. It’s a strategic move to maintain flexibility while also keeping pressure on Israel.
**Interviewer:** President Biden’s remarks to Iran to be cautious suggest that the U.S. is trying to deter potential Iranian involvement. How effective do you think these warnings will be?
**Dr. Al-Mansour:** U.S. warnings have historically had mixed success in deterring Iranian actions, especially when sectarian and nationalistic sentiments are involved. While it might create some hesitation, Iran’s decision-making often incorporates long-term strategies that transcend immediate threats. Hence, while the U.S. warnings are important, they may not fully prevent Iran from acting in defense of what it perceives to be its broader interests in the region.
**Interviewer:** With these developments, what should we anticipate moving forward in terms of regional dynamics?
**Dr. Al-Mansour:** The situation is fluid. If hostilities continue to escalate, we could see increased military activity from Hezbollah, more retaliatory actions from Israel, and potentially Iran’s deeper involvement. The international community, especially the West, will be watching closely to see how Iran and its allies respond, which could significantly shape the geopolitical landscape of the region in the coming weeks and months.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Al-Mansour, for your insights. It’s a complex situation, and we appreciate your expertise.
**Dr. Al-Mansour:** Thank you for having me. It’s crucial we keep an eye on these developments.