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Despite predictions in several Western news outlets that Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, will “soften” the Islamic Republic’s “absolutist foreign policy,” among his first acts upon assuming his new role was a statement reaffirming Tehran’s full support for its Lebanese proxy Hezbollah. In a message to Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah on July 7, Pezeshkian underlined that Iran “has always supported the resistance of the people in the region against the illegitimate Zionist regime,” adding that this stance is “rooted in the fundamental policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the ideals of the late Imam Khomeini, and the guidance of the Supreme Leader.” Pezeshkian expressed confidence that Hezbollah and Iran’s other regional proxies “will not allow [Israel] to continue its warmongering and criminal policies against the oppressed people of Palestine and other nations in the region,” calling as well for a “divine victory for the heroic resistance fighters.” In remarks made during the final round of the presidential election on July 5, Pezeshkian — who is aligned with the regime’s ostensible “reformist” wing associated with former President Hassan Rouhani — emphasized that any detente with Western nations would not include Israel.
Expert Analysis
“Rouhani was a wolf in sheep’s clothing; Pezeshkian is an undisguised wolf. Those who portray him as a liberal, liberalizer, moderate, or reformist are either ignorant fools or acting as the regime’s PR agents.” — Saeed Ghasseminejad, Senior Iran and Financial Economics Advisor
“In one of his first acts, Iranian president-elect Masoud Pezeshkian sent Hassan Nasrallah a letter reaffirming Iran’s support for Hezbollah. This is unsurprising — Pezeshkian was expressing the constant and consistent stance of the Islamic Republic, one that is not dependent upon who holds the office of the presidency in Tehran.” — David Daoud, FDD Senior Fellow
Hezbollah Meets With Hamas While Escalating Attacks on Israel
Nasrallah met with Hamas deputy leader Khalil al-Haya on July 5 to discuss “the latest developments in the ongoing negotiations these days, their atmosphere, and the proposals presented to reach an end to the treacherous aggression against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.” According to Reuters, al-Haya told Nasrallah that Hamas was willing to accept a proposal to end the war in Gaza and release the remaining hostages seized during the October 7 atrocities.
The meeting coincided with escalating attacks by Hezbollah against Israel. Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets and drones at Israel on July 6 and 7 after launching two hundred rockets and twenty drones toward northern Israel on July 4. Hezbollah began its attacks against Israel in the wake of the October 7 atrocities, resulting in the displacement of more than 60,000 residents of northern Israel from their homes.
