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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– What are the potential ramifications of Iran’s cautious foreign policy on its support for groups like Hamas in light of recent escalation?
**Interview with Middle East Expert Dr. Fahad Alyan**
**Interviewer**: Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Alyan. Recent events have escalated tensions between Iran, Hamas, and Israel. Can you provide an overview of Iran’s position regarding the recent attack on Israel by Hamas?
**Dr. Alyan**: Thank you for having me. Yes, the situation is quite complex. While Iran has historically supported Hamas with funding and weapons, Iranian officials have publicly denied any involvement in the recent attack on Israel. Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian stated that Iran’s future actions would depend largely on how Israel conducts itself in Gaza, emphasizing a reactive stance rather than an instigative one [[1](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/04/06/world/middleeast/iran-hamas-hezbollah-houthis-iraq.html)].
**Interviewer**: With the U.S. expressing concerns about a possible second front opening in Lebanon, how significant is Hezbollah’s role in this conflict?
**Dr. Alyan**: Hezbollah is a key player. The group has significant military capabilities and is backed by Iran, which raises fears of them intervening and escalating the conflict with Israel. Following the recent events, there have been reports of Hezbollah firing rockets into Israel, which indicates they might be preparing to take a more active role. This prospect is alarming to western nations, including the U.S., which has warned Iran to avoid escalating tensions further [[1](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/04/06/world/middleeast/iran-hamas-hezbollah-houthis-iraq.html)].
**Interviewer**: What does Iran’s response to this situation indicate about its foreign policy strategy in the region?
**Dr. Alyan**: Iran’s approach seems to involve a careful balancing act. On one side, they maintain strong rhetoric supporting Palestinian groups like Hamas, while on the other, they appear cautious about direct military engagement, especially against the backdrop of U.S. warnings. Abdullahian’s comments suggest that Iran is willing to act if provoked, but they are also trying to avoid direct confrontation that could lead to wider conflict [[1](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/04/06/world/middleeast/iran-hamas-hezbollah-houthis-iraq.html)].
**Interviewer**: Given the casualties on both sides resulting from the conflict, what implications do you foresee for the civilians in the region?
**Dr. Alyan**: The human cost is devastating. With reports indicating that both Hamas’s and Israel’s actions have resulted in significant civilian casualties, it highlights the urgency for diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation. A protracted conflict could lead to even greater suffering if an all-out war breaks out. Regional cooperation among Islamic and Arab nations, as suggested by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, could be crucial in mediating peace [[1](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/04/06/world/middleeast/iran-hamas-hezbollah-houthis-iraq.html)].
**Interviewer**: Thank you, Dr. Alyan, for your insights. It’s a deeply concerning situation, and understanding these dynamics is essential as events continue to unfold.
**Dr. Alyan**: Thank you for having me. It’s vital that we continue to pay attention to these developments.
