Hamas Calls on Iran to Refrain From Targeting Surrounding Nations

The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas issued a statement on Saturday urging Iran to avoid actions that would strike neighboring states, even as it reiterated Tehran’s right to defend itself in the face of aggression from Israel and the United States.

In its official message, the group said that while it supports the Islamic Republic of Iran’s prerogative to reply to hostile acts using all lawful methods under international norms and laws, it still requests that Iran refrain from drawing neighboring countries into the conflict.

The movement, which endured a destructive two‑year confrontation with Israeli forces in Gaza, also called on world leaders and global organizations to take active steps toward ending the ongoing conflict without further delay.

Hamas has in the past condemned the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, at the outbreak of the latest war, labeling it a “grievous act.” The group openly acknowledged Khamenei’s long‑term backing, noting his sustained political, diplomatic, and military support for Palestinians and their resistance efforts.

“Hamas values all forms of political, diplomatic, and military assistance extended to our people, our mission, and our resistance movement,” the organization stated shortly after the announcement of Khamenei’s death.

Hamas’s appeal reflects a delicate balancing act. While the group recognizes Iran as a strategic ally with deep ideological and material ties, it also appears concerned about the wider regional fallout should Tehran escalate attacks into neighboring territories.

Iran has historically backed several regional movements and militias across the Middle East. However, expanding military action beyond its borders could intensify tensions and potentially draw in multiple countries, increasing the risk of a broader war that might engulf civilians and further destabilize the region.

By calling on the international community to work toward an immediate ceasefire, Hamas signals a desire to de‑escalate the conflict even as it defends Iran’s right to resist what it characterizes as hostility from Israel and its partners.