Why Did Iran Postpone Meshaal Visit?
The "resistance" axis of Iran, Syria and Hezbollah are not in agreement over welcoming Hamas back into the fold.
News that the head of Hamas’ political bureau, Khaled Meshaal, may visit Iran has dominated the behind-the-scenes Palestinian political discourse. Decision-makers in Gaza, Doha, Tehran and Damascus have exchanged indirect messages about the speculated visit.
Amir Mousavi, an official in the Supreme Council for the Iranian Revolution, told Hamas’ Al-Resalah newspaper on Oct. 23 that preparations are being made for a meeting between Meshaal and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in the coming weeks to strengthen bilateral relations.
The visit, however, was postponed by Iran for unknown reasons. Ahmed Yousef, a former political adviser to the Hamas government, blamed the postponement on Iran’s preoccupation with internal issues and its ongoing talks with the international community. He revealed that a Hamas delegation had secretly visited Tehran this month to reduce the differences in their relations and reach a “conciliatory approach” to managing strategic relationships.
Meanwhile, Izzat al-Rishq, a member of the Hamas political bureau and media official, told Al-Monitor during an interview that there are no preparations for Meshaal to visit Tehran and that all talk in that regard is just speculation intended to distort Hamas’ positions.
