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 are telling 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 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 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 Dr. Mardini assess the impact of Iranian rhetoric on regional diplomatic relations and potential conflict escalation?
**Interview with International Relations Expert Dr. Layla Mardini on Iran’s Role in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Mardini. With recent events surrounding the militant attack by Hamas on Israel and the subsequent retaliation, how do you interpret Iran’s claim that it was not involved in the attack?
**Dr. Mardini:** Thank you for having me. Iran has a long history of supporting Hamas, both politically and materially. However, the Iranian government is keen to distance itself from direct involvement in this specific outbreak of violence as a strategic move. They want to maintain the narrative of being supportive but not actively participating, which could escalate tensions further.
**Editor:** Considering the fears of a second front opening with Hezbollah’s potential involvement, what are the implications for regional stability?
**Dr. Mardini:** The potential for Hezbollah to open a new front against Israel makes an already volatile situation even more precarious. If Hezbollah intervenes, not only will it complicate Israel’s military response, but it could also draw in other regional players and escalate the conflict into a broader war, which many nations are eager to avoid.
**Editor:** Iran’s Foreign Minister stated that the actions of the “Zionist regime” in Gaza dictate Tehran’s future options. How does this rhetoric impact diplomatic relations in the region?
**Dr. Mardini:** This rhetoric reflects the Iranian leadership’s strategy of framing their responses as reactive rather than proactive. It puts the onus on Israel to dictate the terms of engagement, while also appealing to nationalist sentiments among Arab countries. This approach complicates diplomatic efforts, as it suggests Iran is willing to escalate tensions depending on Israel’s actions, making stable dialogue more difficult.
**Editor:** US President Biden has issued a clear warning to Iran regarding its involvement. How effective do you think these warnings will be?
**Dr. Mardini:** US warnings can serve as a deterrent, but their effectiveness largely depends on Iran’s calculus. While Iran may consider American warnings, it also recognizes its position within the region and its backing of groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. The effectiveness of the warnings will need to be observed, especially as events unfold in the coming days and weeks.
**Editor:** In light of these developments, how can the international community best respond to the rising tensions?
**Dr. Mardini:** The international community must pursue diplomatic channels and work toward de-escalation. This includes engaging with not just Israel and Palestine but also Iran and other regional powers, emphasizing dialogue over military solutions. Facilitating humanitarian support for those affected in Gaza and promoting peace initiatives could help alleviate some of the tensions.
**Editor:** Thank you, Dr. Mardini, for your insights on this critical issue.
**Dr. Mardini:** Thank you for having me. It’s important that we continue to monitor the situation closely as it evolves.
