Hamas leader heads to Tehran for meetings with officials
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh is set to meet with Iranian officials during a visit to Tehran on Tuesday, a day after the UN Security Council adopted a resolution calling for a ceasefire between the group and Israel in Gaza.
Iranian state media reported that Haniyeh is scheduled to meet with Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in addition to other officials who were not mentioned.
Tuesday’s visit marks the second by the Hamas leader since the group launched an attack on Israel on October 7, killing 1,139 people, according to Israeli tallies, and taking another 250 civilians and soldiers hostage. Israel subsequently launched a war on Gaza under the pretext of targeting Hamas, killing over 32,000 people, mostly women and children, according to the enclave’s health ministry.
Iran has labeled the Hamas attack as a “success” but has denied being involved. The US has accused Tehran of supporting Hamas through its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF), but has stopped short of linking the country to the October 7 events.
Haniyeh’s visit comes a day after the UN Security Council passed a resolution calling for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza for the holy month of Ramadan, which has two weeks left. It also demanded that Hamas releases the hostages. Israel says around 130 hostages are still believed to be in Gaza, including 33 said to be dead.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani on Monday said the resolution was “positive yet insufficient,” calling for more measures to be implemented including a lasting ceasefire, and end to Israeli attacks in the occupied West Bank, sending international aid to Gaza, and the end of the blockade on the strip.
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said he spoke to Amir-Abdollahian on Monday about the need for Tehran to use its “regional influence to deescalate.”
Iranian state media reported that Haniyeh is scheduled to meet with Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in addition to other officials who were not mentioned.
Tuesday’s visit marks the second by the Hamas leader since the group launched an attack on Israel on October 7, killing 1,139 people, according to Israeli tallies, and taking another 250 civilians and soldiers hostage. Israel subsequently launched a war on Gaza under the pretext of targeting Hamas, killing over 32,000 people, mostly women and children, according to the enclave’s health ministry.
Iran has labeled the Hamas attack as a “success” but has denied being involved. The US has accused Tehran of supporting Hamas through its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF), but has stopped short of linking the country to the October 7 events.
Haniyeh’s visit comes a day after the UN Security Council passed a resolution calling for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza for the holy month of Ramadan, which has two weeks left. It also demanded that Hamas releases the hostages. Israel says around 130 hostages are still believed to be in Gaza, including 33 said to be dead.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani on Monday said the resolution was “positive yet insufficient,” calling for more measures to be implemented including a lasting ceasefire, and end to Israeli attacks in the occupied West Bank, sending international aid to Gaza, and the end of the blockade on the strip.
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said he spoke to Amir-Abdollahian on Monday about the need for Tehran to use its “regional influence to deescalate.”
Spoke to @Amirabdolahian about bilateral issues, incl. need to release detained citizens & avoid nuclear escalation. Discussed also Gaza. Critical that Iran uses regional influence to deescalate.
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) March 25, 2024
Reiterated @EUCouncil’s concerns about possible transfer of IRI missiles to Russia.