Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has spoken with a senior Hamas official about recent developments in the Middle East and ongoing diplomatic efforts involving the United States, according to Iranian state television.
The broadcaster reported on Wednesday that Abbas Araghchi held a telephone conversation with Basem Naeem, a member of Hamas's political bureau, to discuss the latest developments in the region.
The call came days after Iran and the United States signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at securing a lasting end to hostilities across the Middle East. While the agreement does not specifically mention Gaza, it calls for an “immediate and permanent cessation of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon”.
Hamas has welcomed the agreement and said it hopes the deal will also contribute to ending the violence in the Gaza Strip, which has been devastated by more than two years of war with Israel.
Support for the Palestinian cause has been a central pillar of Iran's foreign policy since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. During the conversation, the foreign minister “reaffirmed the Islamic republic’s continued support for Palestinians and their just cause until their legitimate national rights are fully realised”, according to a transcript carried by Iranian state television.
The discussion took place as diplomatic efforts continued in the region. On Tuesday, Abbas Araghchi accompanied President Masoud Pezeshkian on a visit to neighbouring Pakistan, which has been serving as a mediator in talks between Tehran and Washington.
