A senior commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force reaffirmed Iran’s support for Hamas’ maximalist ceasefire demands on September 1. Brigadier General Eraj Masjedi, the IRGC Quds Force Coordination Deputy, expressed backing for Hamas’ conditions, which include a permanent ceasefire, a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, and a hostage-for-prisoner exchange.
Masjedi emphasized that Hamas will continue its resistance against Israel unless these demands are met. Accepting Hamas’ conditions would hinder Israel from achieving its goal of dismantling Hamas as both a military force and a governing body in Gaza.
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Specifically, a full withdrawal of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from the Gaza Strip would prevent Israel from controlling the Philadelphi Corridor, a critical area that helps prevent the smuggling of arms into Gaza and the rapid rearmament of Hamas and other Palestinian militias.
Meanwhile, IRGC-affiliated media suggested on August 31 that some factions within the Iranian regime are seeking to delay any retaliatory strike on Israel until the current ceasefire and hostage negotiations conclude.
The media outlet Basirat reported that Iran’s response to the killing of Hamas Political Bureau Chairman Ismail Haniyeh by Israel would be “strong, decisive, and deterrent,” but noted that Iran does not intend to disrupt the ongoing ceasefire discussions.
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International mediators, including Qatar, have been keeping Iranian officials informed about the progress of the negotiations since they began in Doha in mid-August 2024.
Unnamed Iranian officials previously indicated on August 13 that Iran might “delay” its planned response to Israel if a ceasefire-hostage agreement is reached between Israel and Hamas.
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