The Iranian Minister of Intelligence expects “serious regional changes” in the wake of the Gaza War
Iranian Intelligence Minister Ismail Khatib predicted that “serious regional changes” would occur in the near future, anticipating a decrease in the “cross-border” damage that his country was receiving, and considered “what Hamas did on October 7 to be a new failure for America in the region.”
Khatib mocked the three trips made by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken since the outbreak of the war in the Gaza Strip. Fars Agency, affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards, quoted him as saying, “The US Secretary of State is circulating in the region like street vendors, looking for a solution with the help of some countries, so that a shred of dignity remains for the Zionist entity, that is, a truce while saving face.”
He continued in this regard, “The entity that claimed that it would be the victor after the (Hamas) attack is now seeking a truce to release the prisoners, and is following this order in order to take Gaza from the hands of (Hamas).”
Khatib told a group of Iranian security officials that “what Hamas did was another failure for America in the region.” He added: “The important point in this operation is that it is another failure of America’s power in the region and the world.” He continued: “The hegemony of America, which supports the Zionist entity militarily, intelligence, economically and politically, has collapsed, and was preparing it as an alternative to its scandalous exit from the region.”
Khatib pointed to the path of normalization of relations between Israel and the countries of the region. He said: “They (the Americans) made great efforts to normalize and develop relations with the countries of the region through the (Abraham Accords) plan, and they provided great privileges to some countries of the region,” and added: “They wanted the Zionist entity to turn into the first power in the region. The Americans have suffered a worse defeat.” From the Israelis, this defeat will certainly lead to a change in America’s methods in the region.”
Khatib predicted several scenarios, including the survival of the American forces that were sent to the region in recent weeks. He also expected that the operation carried out by the Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip would lead to “reverse results,” and said: “For the first time in 70-80 years, world public opinion is united against the Zionist entity, until US President Joe Biden was forced to visit the region,” pointing out. This is “one of the reasons for America’s failure in the region, and this will lead to changing the results in the near future.”
Khatib pointed out that his country “is exposed to a hybrid war,” adding that “victory in the hybrid and global war against Iran will be an influential factor in the future.” He added: “Today, the Islamic Republic of Iran is arousing interest as a major power in the region,” and he went further when he said: “Now Iran is a decisive power not only in the region, but also in different parts of the world, and today they feel the power of Iran.”
Accordingly, he said, “The region will witness new changes in the near future,” adding that it “will witness a stronger confrontation with groups, gangs, and alliances that threaten security, and in a broader sense, terrorist operations,” without providing details. He also said: “Our cross-border damage will decrease, and we will see our cross-border security force increase.”
Khatib’s statements came two days after a US air strike on an Iranian-linked weapons store in Syria, without causing any casualties. US forces targeted two facilities in Syria on October 26 that they said were being used by Iran and its affiliated organizations, and they also estimated that those strikes did not cause casualties.
At dawn on Friday, Israel launched bombing in Syria in response to the crash of a drone on Thursday at a school in Eilat (south), according to what the Israeli army announced.
American forces in Iraq and Syria have been subjected to more than 45 attacks since mid-October, and Washington blamed them on factions supported by Iran. The frequency of attacks intensified after the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, following an unprecedented attack by the Islamic movement on Israel on October 7.
Earlier this week, Iran’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Saeed Irani, told CNN that he had not held “direct talks” with his American counterpart at the United Nations about Hamas in light of growing concerns about… The outbreak of a broader regional war.
Irani previously held direct talks with the US special envoy to Iran, Rob Malley, about the nuclear program, despite Tehran’s refusal to sit at the direct negotiating table.
Irani said that despite the support that Tehran provides to groups waging a proxy war in the region, it does not direct any of their actions, including the Hamas movement.
Irani was asked whether Iranian support was the “link” between the attacks by the Lebanese Hezbollah, the Houthi militia in Yemen, and Iraqi groups in Syria against American forces and Israel.
Irani likened the Iranian support it provides to these groups to the support Washington provides to Israel.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian told his Qatari counterpart, Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, that “expanding the scope of the war has become inevitable as its intensity increases in Gaza.” The two ministers exchanged views and some proposed initiatives for a “possible” ceasefire.
2023-11-12 06:00:29
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