Palestinian group Hamas has called on Iran to refrain from targeting neighboring countries, while affirming Tehran's right to defend itself against Israel and the United States. The rare appeal urged the international community to work toward ending the war that has gripped the Middle East.
Hamas stated that while affirming Iran's right to respond to aggression, it calls on Iran "to avoid targeting neighbouring countries." This marks the movement's first public appeal of its kind to Tehran. Hamas, which fought a devastating war with Israel in Gaza, also called for an immediate halt to the ongoing war.
The group previously condemned the killing of Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, as a "heinous crime," acknowledging his longstanding support for the Palestinian movement and resistance.
Despite facing superior firepower, Iran has retaliated with attacks against at least 10 countries. Qatar reported intercepting two missiles on Saturday, following blasts heard in the capital, Doha.
Hamas's appeal comes as its ally, Hezbollah, has fired hundreds of rockets at Israel since the war's outbreak. Israeli strikes have since killed nearly 800 people in Lebanon, according to the country’s health ministry.
Iran has been a significant backer of Hamas, providing substantial financial support. Under Khamenei, support for Palestinian groups was a central pillar of Iran's regional strategy against Israel. Sunni-majority states like Qatar and Türkiye have also maintained ties with Hamas, offering financial and political support respectively. Türkiye reported that a ballistic missile fired from Iran was shot down in Turkish airspace by NATO forces.