The Middle East remains on edge as Iran has threatened to attack Israel if ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas collapse. This threat comes as President Biden made a surprise announcement, claiming a ceasefire deal is closer than ever, despite the delicate nature of the situation.
A senior Iranian security official, speaking to Reuters, warned that Iran, along with its allies like Hezbollah, would launch a direct attack on Israel if it believes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is dragging out negotiations with Hamas.
The official’s statement follows the assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in late July, an event that has heightened tensions in the region. Three senior Iranian officials have told Reuters that only a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas would prevent Iran from taking direct action against Israel. However, these sources did not specify how long Iran would wait before taking action.
Meanwhile, Hamas announced on Sunday that it would not participate in new ceasefire negotiations unless mediators present a plan based on previous talks. These talks are expected to resume on Thursday.
Despite the ongoing threat from Iran, President Biden expressed optimism about a ceasefire deal. While acknowledging the situation is still precarious, Biden stated, “We are closer than we’ve ever been.” He attributed his delay in arriving at an event to his focus on the ceasefire efforts.
However, the statement from Iran and Hamas’s refusal to participate in the upcoming negotiations highlight the complexities and potential for escalation in the region. It remains to be seen if the parties can reach a ceasefire agreement or if Iran will ultimately make good on its threat to attack Israel.
