Crisis in Gaza as Israel warns of long war with Hamas
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9:52 p.m. ET, October 29, 2023
Here’s what to know about Iran’s role in the broader Middle East conflict
“What connects all these groups to Iran is their anti-Israel policies,” said Sima Shine, head of the Iran program at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, noting that while Iran has varying levels of influence over the groups, it doesn’t dictate all their actions.
Raisi’s comments were not the first warning from an Iranian official of the potential for a broader conflict.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has also warned that Israel’s bombardment of Gaza could have far-reaching consequences, saying that if Israel does not halt its airstrikes, “it is highly probable that many other fronts will be opened.”
Last Monday, Abdollahian said the US has sent Iran two messages regarding escalation in the region.
He added that while the US says it wants to de-escalate, it has contradicted itself by continuing to support Israel.
Trita Parsi, vice president of the Quincy Institute in Washington, DC, said there is no appetite or desire from either Iran, the US or Israel for a wider war, but that Washington’s failure to restrain Israel may inadvertently drive the region toward escalation.
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