Iran collaboratew with Hamas? Khamenei spoke out
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the spiritual and political leader of Iran, denied reports that his country collaborated with Hamas, the Palestinian terrorist organization, in preparing Saturday's attack on Israel. This attack resulted in a massacre and the abduction of hundreds of people - reported by the AP agency on Tuesday.
1:53 PM EDT, October 11, 2023
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Chamenei, who spoke during a ceremony at the military academy, expressed his admiration for those who organized the attack, saying: "we kiss the hands of those who planned the attack, (...) we salute the foreheads and shoulders of ingenious and intelligent Palestinian designers and young people".
Unclear role of Tehran
Chamenei's statement arrived shortly after the American newspaper "Washington Post" published information alleging that Iran was supporting Hamas in preparing an attack. The newspaper cited a source from intelligence circles, which stated that Hamas had received support from "Iran's allies", who provided military training, logistical support, and armament. However, as the newspaper cautioned, the exact role of Tehran in this context is "unclear".
Similar information was also reported by the "Wall Street Journal", claiming that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard was deeply involved in the planning and preparation of the Hamas attack. This information was confirmed by both sources in Hamas and in Lebanese Hezbollah, which is supported by Tehran.
"Wherever the evidence leads us."
Despite this, President Joe Biden's administration consistently emphasizes that so far there is no evidence of direct involvement of the Iranian regime in the preparation of the attack. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken conveyed this position in a series of Sunday interviews, simultaneously indicating that the US will follow "wherever the evidence leads us".
Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, who visited Germany on Tuesday, stated during a joint press conference with Chancellor Olaf Scholz, that France is investigating a possible involvement of Iran in the "unacceptable" attack by Hamas. Macron announced that he will not comment on Iran's involvement in the operation until the facts have been established, but he emphasized that it's highly likely that "someone helped Hamas".
