Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian emphasized a direct link between the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the wider security landscape in the Middle East.
The so-called "axis of resistance," a network of autonomous militant groups under Iran's influence, has been instrumental in launching a series of attacks against Israeli and American interests in the region, as per Washington Examiner.
Amir-Abdollahian declared, "An end to the genocide in Gaza will lead to an end of military actions and crises in the region," underlining the interconnected nature of regional security. He argued that the security of the Red Sea is intricately tied to developments in Gaza and warned of the consequences if Israel's actions in Gaza persist.
The Iranian Foreign Minister specified that these attacks, orchestrated by Iran and its proxy groups, would cease if Israel were to withdraw its forces from the conflict. Since mid-October, Iran and its proxies have targeted Israeli and US assets over 100 times, raising the specter of a broader regional conflict.
Notably, Iran deployed a navy vessel to the Red Sea, heightening tensions in an already volatile maritime region. Houthi rebels in Yemen, backed by Iran, have also launched numerous missile and drone attacks against international vessels in the Red Sea, impacting global trade routes.
While the United States and its Western allies have managed to thwart many Houthi attacks, shipping companies have been forced to divert their routes, resulting in significant delays. The situation has further complicated an already strained geopolitical environment.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, undeterred by international pressure, has given no indication of halting the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Netanyahu, who initiated the war in response to a massacre perpetrated by Hamas on October 7, has asserted that the conflict will endure for "many more months." Additionally, he has issued warnings of potential conflict with Hezbollah, another Iran-backed terrorist organization operating in Lebanon, according to Fox News.
US Urges Restraint as Israeli Offensive Persists
Despite President Biden's administration expressing support for Israel, it has urged restraint, calling on Netanyahu's government to scale back its offensive in Gaza. However, the Israeli leadership remains resolute in its commitment to ongoing military operations.
In an interview with CNN's Fareed Zakaria, Amir-Abdollahian reiterated that an end to the Gaza conflict would have far-reaching consequences, echoing the objectives of various armed groups within Iran's network of influence. Since the initial hostilities in October, Hezbollah has engaged in daily confrontations with Israeli forces on the Lebanon-Israel border, while Houthi rebels continue to target vessels in the Red Sea.
Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, recently stated that confrontations at the Lebanon-Israel border would persist until a ceasefire in Gaza is achieved. Iran has directly entered the conflict, launching ballistic missiles at what it claimed was an Israeli intelligence base in northern Iraq.
The tensions have not been confined to the Levant, with Iranian-backed forces in Iraq and Syria launching numerous attacks against US military positions. In response, Iran carried out missile strikes in Syria and Pakistan against groups it accused of orchestrating attacks within its borders.
As the situation intensifies, there are concerns that the ripple effects extend beyond the Middle East. China has called for restraint, recognizing Iran and Pakistan as "close neighbors and major Islamic countries." The international community watches anxiously as diplomatic efforts are underway to prevent a full-scale escalation of the conflict in the region, CNN News reported.
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