Iran is amplifying its discourse regarding potential engagement in the Gaza conflict, primarily through Hezbollah. While Iran has been engaged in significant diplomatic efforts on both regional and international fronts, it has not yet authorized Hezbollah to participate fully in the war. At this stage, Iran gave its proxies in various Middle Eastern regions, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Palestinian organizations in Lebanon, along with symbolic Hezbollah involvement, a green light to carry out sporadic attacks against Israel and the USA. Tehran's objective is to push for a ceasefire, with a cautionary note that in the absence of such an agreement, Axis of Resistance" forces may resort to more forceful actions.
"Kayhan" Khamenei's mouthpiece didn’t hide the Iranian endgame in its Oct. 30 editorial:
"For the moment, pressures should be applied to halt the carnage, but the only permanent solution to peace in the region is the closure of all American military bases and the Islamic will to marshal all resources for the grand campaign to liberate Bayt al-Moqaddas (wrongly called ‘Jerusalem’ by the western media) and weed out the cancerous tumor called Israel, which was planted on the ruins of the Ottoman Empire in Palestine by the crafty British."
The Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi emphasized that Iran, in coordination with Arab and Muslim nations, along with numerous other countries, is actively engaged in the pursuit of an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Simultaneously, he cautioned, "The crimes of the Zionist regime have crossed the red lines, and this may force everyone to take action…Washington asks us not to do anything, but they keep giving widespread support to Israel…The U.S. sent messages to the Axis of Resistance but received a clear response on the battlefield…The United States knows very well our current capabilities and knows that they are impossible to overcome…Despite all U.S. support, the Zionist regime will not be able to uproot the resistance in Palestine”
Raisi maintained Iran's cautious stance regarding Iran's direct involvement in the Hamas attack on October 7. During an interview with "Al-Jazeera" (October 28), Raisi said, “Iran considers it its duty to support the resistance groups, but ... the resistance groups are independent in their opinion, decision, and action.” He reiterated that Iran's support for Palestine is firm but added that “the resistance in Palestine is independent and makes its own decisions without receiving any orders from Tehran.”
Kayhan newspaper responded to those inquiring about Iran's absence from the Palestinian battlefield. The newspaper stated: "The ideology of the Islamic revolution centers around awakening and empowering nations. It unequivocally supports and empowers any oppressed people striving for freedom. However, it does not engage in warfare on behalf of any nation. This strategic approach has effectively thwarted multiple American schemes against Iran in Western Asia." Kayhan's response was echoed in many Iranian media outlets inside and outside of Iran.
In reference to the American effort to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, the Iranian president said that the ongoing conflict in Gaza has overshadowed "that the United States’ calculations in the region have been wrong and Washington will not achieve its goal of creating a new Middle East.”
In this context, Kayhan, the mouthpiece of Iran's Leader, explores the subject in its October 30 editorial (English). The editorial strongly encourages Turkey to align itself with the "Axis of Resistance," especially in light of Turkey's centennial celebration as a republic, which the ongoing conflict in Gaza has overshadowed. It highlights the historical context of modern Turkey's birth in 1923, following Britain's takeover of Ottoman Arab territories, including Jerusalem, in 1917 and the Balfour Declaration supporting Zionist settlement in Palestine.
The editorial underscores the anger felt by Muslims worldwide, mainly Palestinians and Turks, at the "injustice done to Palestinians." It condemns "Israel's brutal actions" in Gaza while hailing Hamas's "heroic Operation Al-Aqsa Storm of October 7" and calls for action rather than just words of support from Turkey's government. The editorial suggests Turkey should bury its differences with neighboring Syria and join the Resistance Front. It also calls for the closure of American military bases in the region and a united effort to liberate Jerusalem and eliminate Israel. Part of part of the editorial reads:
"…Verbal support is welcome but not enough to satisfy the inflamed anger of the Turkish Muslim people. The government should transform its words into action, and the most constructive step it can take on the 100th anniversary of Turkiye’s emergence as a republic is to bury the hatchet with neighboring Syria and join the Resistance Front.
This way, President Erdogan will be doing a great service to both his country and to Islam while ensuring an immortal place for himself in history.
For the moment, pressures should be applied to halt the carnage, but the only permanent solution to peace in the region is the closure of all American military bases and the Islamic will to marshal all resources for the grand campaign to liberate Bayt al-Moqaddas (wrongly called ‘Jerusalem’ by the western media) and weed out the cancerous tumor called Israel, which was planted on the ruins of the Ottoman Empire in Palestine by the crafty British".
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