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. The Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah said on Wednesday it had fired rockets into Israel, which had 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 could the dynamics between regional powers like Iraq and Lebanon influence the future of U.S.-Iran relations?
**Interview with Dr. Ahmed Nour, Middle East Policy Analyst**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Nour. Given the recent escalation following Hamas’s attack on Israel, Iranian officials have stated that they were not involved. How credible is this claim, considering Iran’s long-standing support for Hamas?
**Dr. Nour:** Thank you for having me. It’s important to understand that Iran has historically provided financial and military support to Hamas. However, the Iranian government often seeks to maintain plausible deniability regarding direct involvement in specific violent incidents. Their statement could reflect a desire to avoid direct confrontation with Israel while still exerting influence over groups like Hamas.
**Editor:** What are the implications of Iran’s foreign minister stating that any new fronts depend on Israel’s actions in Gaza?
**Dr. Nour:** This statement indicates that Iran is taking a cautious approach. They are trying to project power without escalating their involvement directly. It highlights a strategy where Iran seeks to position itself as a defender of Palestinian rights while also managing its regional alliances. The more Israel strikes Gaza, the more Iran may feel compelled to react, particularly through proxies like Hezbollah.
**Editor:** The U.S. is clearly concerned about Hezbollah’s involvement. What do you think their next steps will be to prevent a broader conflict?
**Dr. Nour:** The U.S. will likely increase diplomatic pressure on Iran and its allies, perhaps through sanctions or by bolstering Israel’s defense capabilities. Simultaneously, they may engage in back-channel communications with Hezbollah to discourage any escalation. Washington aims to avoid a multi-front conflict, which could destabilize the region further.
**Editor:** With President Biden warning Iran to “be careful,” how do you see the U.S.-Iran relationship evolving from here?
**Dr. Nour:** Tensions will probably remain high. The U.S. is keen to deter Iran from escalatory actions, but it also cannot afford to isolate Iran completely. There’s a delicate balance to strike—between counteracting Iran’s influence in the region and engaging with them to mitigate risks.
**Editor:** how do you see the role of regional powers, like Iraq and Lebanon, in this unfolding situation?
**Dr. Nour:** Iraq and Lebanon will be crucial in mediating tensions. Iraq’s position, particularly, may serve as a diplomatic bridge, given its relationships with both Iran and Arab states. As for Lebanon, Hezbollah’s actions will be pivotal. If they escalate, it could lead to a new front against Israel, which would change the dynamics significantly.
**Editor:** Thank you, Dr. Nour, for your insights on this complex situation.
**Dr. Nour:** My pleasure. Thank you for having me.