Hamas Official: Iran-Hamas relations stable, expanding

Tehran, Apr 7, IRNA – Foreign relations official of Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, said Sunday that the Palestinian movementˈs relations with Iran are stable and on path towards further expansion and development. Hamas Official: Iran-Hamas relations stable, expanding The Palestinian News Agency quoting the International Qods News Agency further quoted Osama Hamdan as saying that Hamas has always enjoyed good relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran, which still continues, and despite the damages it suffered due to some regional developments, particularly in Syria, these relations are stable and now even expanding. ˈWe do not need any mediation for restoration of normal relations with Tehran, which is already on its path towards normalization,ˈ he added. The top Hamas official said that some sides had tried to pretend that Hamas was segregated and might make a big mistake and therefore, it must retreat from its demands for liberation of the Arab nations and prestigious lives for the Arab nations. ˈBut we believe our support for the Arab nations was not a wrong decision and we, the Hamas, as a well organized movement, make our moves in accordance with our fundamentals and our value system, while our consultative bodies always keep revising the movementˈs executive acts,ˈ said Hamdan. He said that everyone is aware of the background and the moderate Islamic thought trend of Hamas, and request for revising it sounds both reactionary and asking for abandoning the resistance movement. Hamas-Islamic Jihad relations Hamdan also referred to a recent meeting between the Head of Hamas Political Office Khalid Mashaal and the Secretary General of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement in Doha. ˈIn that meeting various issues related to the Palestinian ideals and the stands adopted by the resistance towards the recent aggressions of the Zionist regime against Gaza were discussed,ˈ he said. Osama Hamdan also elaborated on the stands adopted by Hamas on halting the so-called Middle East peace talks and unity within the Palestinian front based on resistance. ˈHamas believes the efforts made by the US Secretary of State John Kerry are aimed at ensuring the strategic security for the Zionist regime as he believes the current time is the best opportunity for full annihilation of the Palestinian issue,ˈ he said. He expressed deep concern about the proposed plans by Kerry on such issues as the refugees, the holy Qods, and the establishment of the Palestinian state, reiterating, ˈContinuation of the negotiations would bear no result, but waste of time of the Palestinians, provision of time for the Zionist regime to impose its will, and the annihilation of the Palestinian issue.ˈ A rapprochement between Hamas and Tehran is underway almost three years after a breach over the Palestinian partyˈs refusal to back the Syrian government in the civil war, and amid its current political isolation following the weakening of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. The rebuilding of the relationship is likely to dismay Zionist regime and the US, which had welcomed the weakened ties between Gazaˈs rulers and their powerful political, financial and military sponsors. ˈRelations between us are now almost back to how they were before [the crisis over Syria]. We believe we will soon be back at that point,ˈ said Taher al-Nounou, an aide to Gazaˈs Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh. Contacts between high-ranking officials from both sides had resumed, he said. Khalid Meshaal, the head of Hamasˈs political bureau, based in Qatar, has met Iranian representatives in Ankara and Doha in recent months, and may visit Tehran in the coming months.