Iran is a known supporter of Hamas, which acts as its terror proxy on Israel’s border with Gaza.
Senior Hamas official Mahmoud al-Zahar said that the Palestinian terror group, which controls the Gaza Strip, is seeking to bolster its relations with the Islamic Republic.
“Relations with Iran are acceptable but they should further enhance and develop,” al-Zahar told Iran’s Fars news on Monday.
In similar remarks in March, al-Zahar underlined that Hamas is determined to continue its good relations with Iran.
“The movement is trying to improve its relations with Iran,” the Arabic-language Al-Arabi TV quoted Al-Zahar as saying.
Also, in February 2015, senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan stressed that the Palestinian terror movement would cement ties with Iran.
“Hamas is looking for the expansion of mutual cooperation with Arab and Muslims states as well as those interested in the Palestinian cause across the world, including Iran,” Palestine Online news website quoted Hamdan, who is in charge of Hamas’ foreign relations, as saying.
He noted that Hamas was trying to improve its relations with Iran, and said, “Hamas has age-old relations with Iran and we want to have constant bilateral ties with Tehran.”
On several occasions, Tehran has stated its “principled policy” of supporting anti-Israel terror groups, including Hamas. Iran supports the Hamas terror organization and prefers it over the Palestinian Authority (PA), and has armed it and supplied it with funds to fight Israel.
Both Iran and Hamas have sworn to destroy Israel and deny its right to exist.
By: United with Israel Staff