Iran Keeping Hamas Afloat

Ever since Western nations pledged not to fund the Hamas-led Palestinian government until it recognizes Israel’s right to exist, Hamas has increasingly looked to Iran for both economic and political support—a role Iran is keen to fill.

On June 11, Iranian Majlis Speaker Gholamali Haddad-Adel renewed his government’s support for the Hamas-led Palestinian government, saying Iran is willing to closely cooperate with Hamas and is eager to share experience with the Palestinian government on running state affairs. “Palestine has its place in the hearts of [the] Iranian nation, so that under leadership of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, the great Iran will always support Palestinians,” said Haddad-Adel, in a meeting with Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud al-Zahar (bbc, June 11).

Haddad-Adel added that he appreciated Hamas’s position of not recognizing the occupying regime of Israel, saying that compromise with Israel will not serve the national interest of Palestine.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki also recently spoke on his country’s support for the Hamas-led Palestinian government. He reminded reporters of his nation’s approval of $50 million for the Hamas-led government. This funding augments the millions Iran gives in “gift” payments to family members of Palestinians who carry out homicidal terrorist attacks against Israelis (ibid., June 10). Mottaki added that Tehran was sending 300 Iranian-manufactured automobiles to be used by Palestinian municipalities and that Iran was ready to accept Palestinian students to any of its universities.

Iran is the dominant player in the Middle East. The West’s recent punishments against the Hamas-led Palestinian government has had the unintended consequence of bolstering Iran’s influence and power with yet another Islamic people.