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 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 wary of Iran, but its leaders have warned Tehran in no uncertain terms against intervening in the war.
US President 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 implications of Iran’s denial of involvement in Hamas’s attacks on Israel for regional stability?
**Interview with Dr. Layla Rahimi, Middle East Analyst**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Rahimi. The recent conflict escalation involving Hamas and Israel has raised many questions. Iranian officials have voiced their denial of involvement in the latest attack by Hamas on Israel, despite Iran’s long-standing support for the group. How significant is this claim of non-involvement?
**Dr. Rahimi:** Thank you for having me. Iran’s denial of direct involvement is significant for several reasons. Firstly, it serves to protect the Iranian regime’s political standing both domestically and internationally. By distancing itself from Hamas’s actions, Iran can argue that it supports Palestinian causes without directly engaging in military conflict, which could lead to severe repercussions from Western powers and Israel.
**Interviewer:** The United States is concerned about the potential for Hezbollah to open a second front against Israel from Lebanon. What are your thoughts on this?
**Dr. Rahimi:** The fear of a second front is very real, especially considering Hezbollah’s history and military capabilities. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian’s statements suggest that Iran views Israel’s actions in Gaza as a key factor influencing regional dynamics. If Hezbollah perceives Israeli actions as aggressive or a threat to regional security or to their allies, they may feel compelled to respond militarily, potentially escalating the conflict further.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned the implications of the statements made by Iranian officials. Abdollahian’s comment that “everything depends on the actions of the Zionist regime in Gaza” indicates a conditional stance. What does this mean for future actions?
**Dr. Rahimi:** This statement underscores Iran’s strategy of utilizing proxy groups to exert influence in the region while maintaining plausible deniability. It also hints at a waiting game; Iran is likely observing Israel’s military response to Hamas and gauging the international community’s reaction. Should Israel’s actions intensify and result in significant casualties among Palestinians, Iran may feel justified in responding through Hezbollah or encouraging more aggressive actions from its allies, framing it as a necessary defence against Israeli aggression.
**Interviewer:** With the U.S. warning Iran against intervening, how do you see the calculations on both sides playing out?
**Dr. Rahimi:** The situation is quite delicate. The U.S. has made clear that any Iranian intervention could lead to serious consequences, which may deter Iran from a direct military involvement. However, both Iran and Hezbollah could still engage in a limited manner, striking at Israeli targets while avoiding full-scale war. The key for both sides will be to manage their actions to avoid provoking a wider conflict, while still maintaining their credibility and support among their respective constituencies.
**Interviewer:** what can we expect in the coming days as tensions rise?
**Dr. Rahimi:** Expect continued rhetoric and military posturing from both sides. Iran will likely call for unity among Arab nations as President Raisi has done, while also providing logistical or tactical support to Hamas and Hezbollah. Conversely, Israel will respond to any attacks with force, and we may see a cycle of retaliatory violence that escalates if either side miscalculates the other’s intentions or responses. The situation remains fluid and highly volatile.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Rahimi, for your insights on this critical and evolving situation.
**Dr. Rahimi:** Thank you for having me.