Khaled Mashaal Highlights Iran, Hamas Historical Ties
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The head of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) Political Bureau, Khaled Mashaal, underlined that the historical relations between the group and the Islamic Republic of Iran continue despite some ups and downs.
“Hama seeks to establish good ties with all Arab and Islamic countries for the resolution of the Palestinian issue,” Mashaal told the London-based Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.
He further described Iran-Hamas relations as “historical”, saying that the ties will continue despite some ups and downs that have been there due to differences of opinion over the Syrian crisis.
Earlier in December, a Hamas delegation, led by Muhammad Nasr, a member of the political bureau of the movement, paid an official visit to Iran.
According to the head of Hamas movement’s foreign affairs, Osama Hamdan, the primary purpose of that visit was expansion of Iran-Hamas ties, which he said have been in place for more than 25 years.
Hamas was once a Syrian ally but endorsed the revolt against President Bashar al-Assad in 2012.
Syria has been gripped by civil war since March 2011 with Takfiri terrorists from various groups, including the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), currently controlling parts of it.
According to the United Nations, more than 220,000 people have been killed and one million wounded during the conflict.
In the meantime, Iran has remained a close ally of Syria and supports its legitimate government in the face of foreign-backed militancy.
