As more information becomes available, it becomes clear that the statements made by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) spokesperson, Major-General Ramadan Sharif, about ‘Operation Aqsa Deluge’ and its reasons are not accurate. When asked about the motivation behind the operation, he replied that it was a reaction to the murder of Qassem Soleimani, who had previously served as the leader of the Revolutionary Guard.

Hamas reaffirmed that the causes and motivations for ‘Operation Aqsa Deluge’, the dangers that threaten Al-Aqsa Mosque and all of the activities taken by the Palestinian resistance are in response to the ongoing aggression of the occupation against its people and its sacred sites. The position taken by Iran provokes inquiries into the schisms that exist within the Iranian position.

Following the launch of the surprise attack on Israel by Hamas, the supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, expressed his admiration for what he referred to as the “destructive earthquake” for Israel, stating that Iran acknowledged the hands of those who plotted the strike. Iran, on the other hand, denied any involvement in the attack, which led to the deaths of 2,000 persons and the seizure of more than 240 hostages.

This duality in the Iranian position—with the Iranian leadership denying involvement in the attack on Gaza and claiming today that the goals of ‘Operation Aqsa Deluge’ are to avenge Soleimani’s killing—proves that the leadership is divided. However, the essential side is in what this battle has revealed about the untruth of the deceitful slogans raised by Iran and its supporters in the region, particularly Hezbollah, regarding Palestine and the Palestinian cause, as well as their aim to drive Israel into the sea.

This war has proved that these slogans are untrue. Esmail Qaani, adviser to the commander of the Quds Force in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, made a statement recently in which he threatened to destroy Tel-Aviv if Israel encroached on Iranian land. This statement is indicative of the illusions that Iran and Hezbollah have marketed to the public and their environment.

Does anyone know for certain that Israel will launch an attack against Iran? There is a possibility that Iran’s unwavering backing for the so-called ‘Axis of Resistance’ can act as a reminder of the country’s ongoing assistance for Hamas and its support for the organization while addressing the attack. Qaani’s statement about destroying Tel-Aviv may be part of a media provocation.

Iran was a strategic ally of Israel before the Islamic Revolution in 1979. The situation shifted following the Islamic Revolution when Ayatollah Khomeini returned from exile to assume authority. The Islamic Republic of Iran evolved into a theocratic regime that espouses anti-Israel rhetoric. The Palestinian issue became a fundamental element of the country’s interests and gained great support among the Islamic circles and within intellectual and Leftist communities.

Iran played a significant role in providing support to Hamas throughout the 1990s and the first decade of the 21st Century. This support was mostly motivated by a shared hatred for the same opponent rather than shared religious or political ideas. The relationship, on the other hand, became strained in 2012 as a result of Hamas’s refusal to support Bashar al-Assad, Iran’s partner in the Syrian civil war. As a reaction, Iran cut back on its support for the violent actions of the Hamas movement and stopped providing financial assistance to the organization.

The reorganization of the political landscape between Iran and Hamas, particularly since 2017, was brought about by the normalization of relations between several Arab countries and Israel. The statement made by the spokesperson of the IRGC reshapes the roles between Iran and Hamas. This statement demonstrates that Iran’s funding of the military wing of Hamas over the years has not been in vain. This is despite Iran’s efforts to convince the international public not to accuse it of the attack on October 7.
There is still considerable uncertainty over Iran’s actual level of cooperation and its intentions. Nonetheless, a more thorough understanding of Iran’s changing position can be obtained by concentrating on the fundamental causes, such as the intricate Israel-Palestine conflict, regional power dynamics and internal political issues.

Razi Mousavi, a senior military adviser for the IRGC, was assassinated by the Israeli forces this week. Mousavi had a significant role in organizing military and logistical support to militants supported by Tehran across Syria, Iraq and Lebanon. Iran has pledged to take military action. Time will tell what it will be if the Iranian explanation of the Al Aqsa Deluge is accurate. (IPA Service)