Hamas Condemns Attacks on Tehran, Urges Iran to Spare Gulf States

The Palestinian group Hamas has urged its ally Iran to avoid launching attacks against Gulf countries while reaffirming Tehran’s right to defend itself against military actions by Israel and the United States.

In a statement on Saturday, Hamas called on its “brothers in Iran” not to target neighbouring states and appealed for regional cooperation to end the conflict that has spread across much of the Middle East.

“While affirming the right of the Islamic Republic of Iran to respond to this aggression by all available means in accordance with international norms and laws, the movement calls on the brothers in Iran to avoid targeting neighbouring countries,” the group said.

Since the war involving Iran, Israel and the United States began on February 28, several Gulf states have reported Iranian missile and drone attacks. Hamas said countries in the region should work together to halt the fighting and preserve relations among neighbouring nations.

Iran has long provided political, financial and military support to Hamas. The Palestinian group is often described as part of the so-called “axis of resistance”, a network that has included Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthis.

The conflict comes after years of violence linked to the war in Gaza Strip following Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has devastated the enclave and led to tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths, while regional countries have attempted to mediate and provide humanitarian aid.

Gulf states have also been involved in diplomatic efforts to address the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict. During the first meeting of a US-backed initiative known as the Board of Peace in Washington, several Gulf countries pledged financial support.

Qatar and Saudi Arabia each pledged $1bn, while Kuwait committed $1bn over the coming years. The United Arab Emirates also announced an additional $1.2bn in aid to support Gaza through the initiative.

Qatar has also played a major role as a mediator alongside the United States and Egypt in negotiations related to Gaza.

A US-backed ceasefire agreement has been in place in Gaza since October 2025, intended to halt the two-year war that began in 2023. However, tensions remain high, with reports of repeated violations and continued violence despite the agreement.