Ex-FM Zarif Justifies Iran's Proxy Support Amid Worst Tensions In Years

The former Iranian foreign minister has voiced support for the country’s regional proxies amidst the worst tensions in decades.

Speaking to hardline Tehran-based newspaper Vatan-e Emrooz, Mohammad Javad Zarif underscored Iran's “genuine support” for such militant groups in the region, dubbed the "Axis of Resistance", a brainchild of Iran’s Supreme Leader.

Since October, Iran and its regional allies have intensified their activities against Israel and the US, coinciding with Israel's military campaign in Gaza following Hamas' surprise attack on Israel which killed 1200.

For the past nearly four months, militias supported by Iran in Iraq and Syria have been directing attacks on US bases,

Hezbollah in Lebanon has been firing missiles towards northern Israel, and Houthi rebels in Yemen have been targeting commercial ships in the Red Sea.

They cite Israel's military campaign in Gaza as justification for their actions and advocate for a ceasefire.

Zarif’s statement follows the recent killing of three American soldiers in an attack by militant forces along the Jordan-Syria border. In response, the President of the United States has declared intentions to retaliate against such assaults.

Iranian officials claim these forces act “independently” and do not receive direct orders from Iran while Zarif claimed “the Islamic Republic can play an important role in supporting the resistance."

Zarif, who served as Iran's Foreign Minister for eight years under President Hassan Rouhani, faced sanctions from the Trump administration under an executive order targeting key figures associated with the Iranian leadership.