Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian emphasized the urgency of stopping Israeli attacks on Gaza, which are escalating, during a meeting with UN Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths in Geneva on November 15. Amir-Abdollahian, who was in Geneva to discuss the Israel-Gaza war with UN and Red Cross officials, insisted on an immediate halt to Israel's assaults, stating that the ongoing situation is intolerable. He asserted that Israel had no chance of winning the war, and its prolongation would only increase costs for the US, Israel's primary supporter.
Amir-Abdollahian highlighted his recent meetings with Hamas officials in Doha, where discussions about the civilian captives taken by Hamas in their October 7 attack on Israel took place. He conveyed that if Israel ceased its actions in Gaza, the resistance groups would also stop their counterattacks.
Iran's stance on the Gaza conflict indicates a strategic approach balancing support for Palestinians and the so-called "Axis of Resistance" groups with a desire to avoid direct military confrontation with Israel and the US.
Despite solid suspicions of Iran's involvement in Hamas' coordinated October 7 attacks, Tehran maintains a distinction between providing support and engaging in an all-out regional war or having command and control over such operations.
Amir-Abdollahian's warning to Israel through its allies indicates Iran's readiness to act if Gaza's situation worsens but also shows restraint, as seen in a statement from Iran's UN mission emphasizing non-intervention unless Iranian interests are directly threatened.
Khamenei's warning about the impatience of Muslims and resistance forces further underscores this cautious approach. Tehran's strategy aims to capitalize on the crisis for propaganda without escalating into a broader conflict, which could invite U.S. intervention and cause significant harm to Iran/ Bottom line, Iran is ready to fight until the last Palestinian dies in Gaza.
Historically, Iran has demonstrated aversion to war, as seen in his decisions during the Taliban's attack on the Iranian consulate in Afghanistan in 1998 and after the U.S. assassination of Gen. Qassem Soleimani in 2020, indicating a consistent approach towards avoiding direct military engagements.
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