Three senior Iranian officials cited by Reuters said that only accepting a ceasefire in the Gaza war would prevent Iran from attacking Israel directly. In recent days, Tehran announced retaliation against Tel Aviv over the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyi.
Iran has announced “severe punishment” against Israel for the assassination of Hani on July 31 in Tehran. Israel did not claim responsibility for the attack..
A senior Iranian security official said, according to Reuters on Tuesday Iran, along with allies such as Hezbollah, will launch a direct attack if Gaza negotiations fail. Iranian retaliation could also occur if Tehran believes Tel Aviv is delaying negotiations.
Reuters News Sources did not say how long Iran would allow negotiations to progress before acting.
They are scheduled to take place on Thursday new negotiations on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The previous round of negotiations took place on Sunday.
They participate in negotiations mediators from the United States, Egypt and Qatar.
Negotiations are currently at a standstill.both sides accused each other of imposing new conditions and blamed each other for the failure of the negotiations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has in recent weeks denied reports that he was breaking off the talks by hardening his negotiating stance, but documents show Netanyahu made new demands that even Israeli negotiators said could make a deal harder – wrote the American newspaper “New York Times” on Tuesday.
The newspaper adds that Hamas also presented new conditions.
Iran is considering sending a representative to Thursday’s talkswhich would be the first case of its kind in the history of the negotiations, Reuters stressed. As it added, the representative’s role would not be to participate in the talks, but rather to maintain the “diplomatic line of communication” with the US behind the scenes during the negotiations.
According to information provided in recent days by sources in the Israeli and US governments, Iranian retaliation could come soon, even before Thursday’s talks begin.
Presented at the end of May by US President Joe Biden Biden May three-phase ceasefire plan presupposes – in addition to a permanent truce – the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons, as well as the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.
As Axios journalist Barak Ravid reported on X, citing two administration sources, Blinken was scheduled to travel on Tuesday, visiting the capitals of Qatar, Egypt and Israel. He ultimately postponed his departure, however. due to “uncertainty about the situation”.
