In view of the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Qatari counterpart Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani have once again called for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The Islamic Republic welcomes the Qatari mediation, said the Iranian chief diplomat, according to a report by the state agency IRNA. However, he assured the Islamist Hamas of Iran's backing. “support any agreement” that Hamas acceptsNegotiations on a ceasefire in the Gaza war are reportedly at an impasse.
The visit of the Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister is the first high-level reception by the new government in Tehran. After the killing of Hamas' foreign chief Ismail Haniyeh in the Iranian capital, the government threatened Israel with retaliation. Since then, concerns have grown that the conflict will spread to other countries in the Middle East. At the weekend, the Hezbollah militia from Lebanon, which is allied with Iran, fired hundreds of rockets at Israeli targets.
Iran's Chief of Staff Mohammed Bagheri was more moderate in his comments on the revenge announced by head of state and religious leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. One must not fall into the “enemy's trap”. “The Islamic Republic of Iran decides for itself when to take revenge, and the axis of resistance will act separately,” said Bagheri. However, he added: “This event must not be forgotten, and revenge (…) is certain.” The axis of resistance includes militias allied with Iran, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi militia in Yemen.