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 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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#Iran #opening #front #Israel #depend #actions #Gaza #Strip
**Interview with Middle East Analyst Dr. Leila Nasri on the Current Tensions Between Iran, Hamas, and Israel**
**Editor**: Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Nasri. With the recent violent escalation following Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel and Iran’s response, what do you make of Tehran’s claim that it was not involved in the attacks?
**Dr. Nasri**: Thank you for having me. Iran has historically supported Hamas, but it’s consistent with their strategy to distance themselves from direct involvement in specific conflicts. By denying involvement, they aim to maintain plausible deniability while continuing to support groups that align with their interests against Israel.
**Editor**: What are the implications of Iran’s Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, stating that opening a new front against Israel depends on the “actions of the Zionist regime in Gaza”?
**Dr. Nasri**: Abdollahian’s comments highlight Iran’s willingness to extend its influence depending on Israel’s actions. It suggests that if Israel intensifies its military response or continues to cause civilian casualties in Gaza, Iran may permit or encourage Hezbollah to escalate its involvement. This points to a broader strategy of leveraging regional dynamics to its advantage.
**Editor**: The US has been cautious, with President Biden warning Iran. How do you see the US’s role in this situation?
**Dr. Nasri**: The US has always viewed Iran as a destabilizing force in the region, particularly with Tehran’s support for militant groups. Biden’s warning serves not only as a deterrent but also signals to Israel and other Gulf allies that the US is aware and concerned about the escalation of hostilities. The US may increase its military presence to send a strong message to Iran while seeking to reassure its allies.
**Editor**: Given the high casualty numbers on both sides, what do you foresee in terms of a potential resolution or escalation in the conflict?
**Dr. Nasri**: Unfortunately, high casualties often lead to further entrenchment rather than resolution. If civilian casualties continue to rise in Gaza, it may provoke increased militant activity from groups like Hezbollah, leading to broader conflict. A diplomatic approach is crucial, but pressures from various actors, including Palestinians, Hezbollah, Iran, and the Israeli government, make this challenging.
**Editor**: Lastly, with the current situation as it is, what should we be watching for in the coming days or weeks?
**Dr. Nasri**: Keep an eye on Hezbollah’s movements and any statements from Iranian officials. The rhetoric around ‘convergence and cooperation’ among Islamic and Arab nations against Israel is significant. Also, watch for any direct actions by the US, including military deployments or shifts in diplomatic rhetoric, which could signal a change in their strategy in response to escalating tensions.
**Editor**: Thank you, Dr. Nasri, for your insights on this complex and evolving situation.
**Dr. Nasri**: Thank you for having me.
