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 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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**Interview with Dr. Sara El-Amin, Middle East Affairs Expert**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. El-Amin. Following the recent conflict, there are significant concerns regarding Iran’s role in the region, particularly with Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel. Iranian officials insist they were not involved in the attack. How do you interpret this statement in the current geopolitical context?
**Dr. El-Amin:** It’s important to consider the complex relationships at play. Iran has historically supported Hamas, providing funding and military assistance. However, their insistence that they were not involved in the recent attack could reflect a desire to maintain plausible deniability. Iran is keen to avoid direct confrontation with Israel and the West at this time while continuing to exert influence through proxy groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.
**Interviewer:** Speaking of Hezbollah, there are increasing fears that they may open a second front against Israel if tensions escalate. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian has mentioned that future actions depend on Israel’s response. What does this indicate about Iran’s strategy?
**Dr. El-Amin:** Abdollahian’s remarks underscore a strategic posture of ambiguity and deterrence. By stating that future actions depend on the “Zionist regime” in Gaza, Iran signals that while it supports resistance against Israel, it will carefully calibrate its involvement to avoid direct engagement — unless provoked under what they perceive as clear provocations. This creates a situation where Iran can support its allies like Hezbollah while also managing international pressures, especially from the U.S.
**Interviewer:** The U.S. has reacted strongly, warning Iran against intervening. President Biden stated he made it clear to Iran to “be careful.” How might this influence Iran’s calculations moving forward?
**Dr. El-Amin:** U.S. warnings do carry weight, especially considering America’s military and diplomatic capabilities. Iran will have to weigh the benefits of supporting a group like Hezbollah against the risks of drawing a broader retaliation from Israel or even a U.S. response. This is a delicate balancing act for Tehran; they want to project strength and solidarity with their proxies while avoiding a direct conflict that could destabilize the regime.
**Interviewer:** Lastly, there seems to be a call for convergence among Islamic and Arab countries from Iranian leadership. What do you think this reflects about Iran’s aspirations in the region?
**Dr. El-Amin:** Iran’s call for unity among Islamic and Arab nations is part of its long-term strategy to position itself as a leader in the Muslim world, particularly in opposing Western influences and supporting Palestinian causes. This rhetoric aims to strengthen regional alliances and create a narrative of resistance. However, it faces challenges, as many Arab countries are wary of Iran’s ambitions and have different priorities, especially with normalization efforts with Israel in recent years.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. El-Amin, for your insights into this critical situation. It’s clear that the coming weeks will be pivotal for the Middle East.
**Dr. El-Amin:** Thank you for having me. The situation is indeed fluid, and the decisions made in the near future could have lasting implications for regional stability.
