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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What are the potential implications of Iran’s denial of involvement in the Hamas attack for future Middle East conflicts?
**Interview with Dr. Sara Nasser, Middle East Analyst**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Nasser. The situation in Israel and Gaza has escalated dramatically following the recent Hamas attack. Iran’s Foreign Minister has publicly stated that Iran was not involved in this attack, despite its long-standing support for Hamas. How significant is this statement in the context of regional politics?
**Dr. Nasser:** Thank you for having me. Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian’s denial of Iranian involvement in the Hamas attack is a crucial part of Iran’s narrative to maintain plausible deniability. This statement reflects Iran’s strategic approach—while it supports groups like Hamas and Hezbollah for geopolitical reasons, it also wants to avoid direct confrontation with Israel and the U.S. Furthermore, this distance allows Iran to position itself as a supporter of Palestinian resistance without directly engaging in hostilities that could lead to broader conflict.
**Editor:** The U.S. has expressed concerns about the possibility of Hezbollah opening a second front against Israel from Lebanon. How does Hezbollah’s involvement change the dynamics of the current conflict?
**Dr. Nasser:** Hezbollah’s involvement would significantly escalate hostilities. The group is much more heavily armed and organized than Hamas, and it has strong connections to Iran. If Hezbollah decides to engage, it would force Israel into a two-front war, which could stretch its military capabilities and lead to further regional instability. This scenario would also draw in other regional players and heighten tensions, complicating the already volatile situation.
**Editor:** What do you think is the significance of Amir Abdollahian’s statement that “everything depends on the actions of the Zionist regime in Gaza”?
**Dr. Nasser:** This assertion emphasizes Iran’s strategic calculus; it suggests that Tehran is monitoring Israel’s military actions closely before committing to a course of action itself. By framing their response in terms of Israel’s behavior, Iran positions itself as a reactive entity rather than the aggressor, thus seeking to rally support from other nations while also hedging its own next steps based on Israel’s actions.
**Editor:** There have been strong warnings from Western leaders, including President Biden, advising Iran to be cautious. How do you see this playing out in the coming days or weeks?
**Dr. Nasser:** The warnings from the U.S. signal that any Iranian aggression could provoke a strong military response not just from Israel, but also from the U.S. and potentially its allies. This creates a delicate balance for Iran—while it seeks to support groups like Hamas and maintain its influence in the region, it must also navigate the risk of direct retaliation from a formidable opponent. The coming days will be crucial as all parties will be watching closely for any indications of escalation or restraint.
**Editor:** Thank you, Dr. Nasser, for your insight on this complex and rapidly evolving situation.
**Dr. Nasser:** Thank you for having me. The developments in this region are indeed critical to understanding broader geopolitical trends.
