Iran has urgently called for a convening of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as hostilities continue to escalate between Hamas and Israeli forces in the aftermath of a surprise and lethal assault on Israel during the weekend, as announced by the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Monday.
According to spokesperson Nasser Kanaani, Iran has officially requested the organization to hold an emergency meeting to address the ongoing regional developments in light of the recent conflict.
It is essential to emphasize that Iran has explicitly disclaimed any involvement in the attacks, which resulted in the loss of 700 Israeli lives and the abduction of numerous individuals by the Islamist group Hamas. Concurrently, over 400 Palestinians have tragically lost their lives.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has stated that there is no concrete evidence linking Iran to the recent attacks on Israel. Nevertheless, he acknowledged the enduring connections between Tehran and Hamas, underscoring the complexities of the situation.
Spokesperson Kanaani issued a stern warning, asserting, "Anyone who threatens the Islamic Republic of Iran should know that any imprudent actions will be met with a severe and forceful response."
It is worth noting that Iran's support for various Palestinian groups forms a component of its broader network of militias and armed factions that it backs across the Middle East. This expansive network grants Iran a significant presence in multiple nations, including Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and, notably, Gaza.
The large-scale incursion by Hamas into Israeli territory, characterized as one of the most significant in decades, coincides with efforts backed by the United States to encourage Saudi Arabia to consider normalizing its relations with Israel. This potential normalization is envisioned as part of a broader arrangement involving a defense agreement between Washington and Riyadh. Such a development would potentially impede Saudi Arabia's recent rapprochement with Tehran, introducing further complexities into the regional dynamics.
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