Description: The Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has received the Hamas leadership in Tehran on the anniversary of the 1979 Iranian revolution. The meeting enticed the leaders presenting Khamenei with the current situation in the Gaza Strip while he in return congratulated them on preventing Israel in achieving its military goals. Khamenei had also commented on the recent threats made by US President Donald Trump and that it didn’t affect the Iranian people or the mindset of the Iranian nation. Khamenei also pledged further support for Hamas in their future endeavors in Gaza and the West Bank. Hamas’ delegation included Mohammad Darwish, Head of the leadership council and Nizar Awadallah, top Hamas official.
Impact: The meeting between Khamenei and the Hamas leadership attested to the fact that the continued and untattered support for Hamas still represents a significant asset for Iran in the region. Even though Israel has objectively triumphed militarily in Gaza and the West Bank, Hamas with the public and outright backing of Iran still represents a significant factor in the region. Both Israel and Hamas have pledged on a continued ceasefire for the time being which could see both sides rearmed, regrouped and clashing again on the battlefield. With no concrete resolution to the conflict, further support from Iran to Hamas could indicate that the ceasefire agreement is productively used to prepare for the continuance of the war with Israel.