Former Iranian President Warns Against Deepening Gaza Involvement

Hassan Rouhani, the ex-president of Iran, addressed the ongoing conflict in Gaza, warning that the regime's flaming of unrest is putting Iran at risk.

He emphasized the potential consequences of its being overly involved, directly or indirectly through its proxies, warning that "a mistake, a wrong decision, or an imprecise action could drag the flames of war towards us."

Rouhani highlighted a development within Iran, noting a division among the people regarding the Gaza issue, a situation he deemed “unprecedented.”

Iran-backed Hamas invaded Israel on October 7, leading to the worst conflict in the Gaza Strip since Hamas took control in 2007. Iran's proxies across the region in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen have all since been involved as the conflict escalates, in spite of Tehran's ongoing denials of involvement.

It has created a huge divide among the Iranian population with many voicing support for Israel as it battles Iran's biggest Palestinian proxy.

Adding to the concerns, former Foreign Minister Javad Zarif warned of the possibility of war. During a gathering discussing the Palestine issue from the perspective of international law on Wednesday, Zarif expressed apprehension about the potential consequences of being drawn into the conflict between Hamas and Israel, asserting that “it would not affect the officials in power but would impact the Iranian people.”

The United States has taken a strong stance in support of its ally Israel. Following the surprise attack by Hamas on October 7 which was the most deadly single day for Jews since the Holocaust, the US has mobilized warships and troops, vowing to stand by Israel.

The allegiance has since resulted in US facilities in Syria and Iraq coming under fire from Iran's proxies.