In a widely-watched encounter with Hamas' leader in Tehran, Iran's top military commander vowed unyielding support for the Palestinian cause, declaring Tehran's commitment to back it "with all its might."
Mohammad Bagheri, Iran's Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, conveyed admiration to Hamas' leader Ismail Haniyeh and described Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel as "unprecedented, exceptional, and highly successful."
Bagheri congratulated Haniyeh for “having such planners and martyrdom-seeking fighters” further adding that Hamas’ operation “elevated the Palestinian cause to the forefront not only within the Islamic world but on a global scale".
The country’s top military commander also condemned US support for Israel, by saying that without Washington’s help, the “Zionist regime” would have already “collapsed” by now.
Haniyeh has been in Tehran since Tuesday, meeting with top Iranian officials. Among them was the country’s ruler, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who assured the Hamas leader of Iran's steadfast commitment, stating, "the Islamic Republic of Iran will not hesitate in supporting the cause of Palestine”.
When Iran-backed Palestinian terrorist group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7th, 1,200 civilians were killed and 240 hostages were taken to Gaza. It marked the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust.
The Iranian regime swiftly praised the attack and orchestrated street celebrations, with large banners hung within hours. Some view this as a potential indication that Tehran had prior knowledge of the operation, a claim reported by the WSJ, although the US, Israel and Iran have denied it.
In 2015, the Supreme Leader declared that Israel must be eradicated within 25 years. The regime went as far as setting up a kind of “countdown clock” in Tehran and a few other cities.
Authorities have consistently emphasized the imperative of "Israel's destruction," a mantra used to justify Iran's extensive financial and military backing of militant groups like Hamas and Hezbollah – all the while, Iranians are confronted with mounting poverty and a bleak economic future for their country.
