Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian congratulated Khalil al-Hayya on his election as the head of Hamas' political bureau and pledged Iran's continued support for the group's cause, according to a statement from Hamas. This announcement comes as U.S. President Donald Trump promotes an agreement aimed at disarming Hamas in Gaza. Pezeshkian stated, "We are with you, and we support you in every action you take, despite the attacks we are facing."
The conversation between Pezeshkian and al-Hayya highlights a contradiction in U.S. efforts to remove Hamas from power while Iran continues to support the group. Trump recently announced what he termed a "historic agreement" for the complete disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups, asserting that Hamas' weapons are a significant barrier to rebuilding Gaza.
The Board of Peace, led by Trump and including key figures such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Jared Kushner, is tasked with overseeing Gaza's transition and mobilizing reconstruction funding. However, tensions have arisen with Israel, as Israeli officials rejected calls to halt attacks in Gaza.
Hamas has indicated that it will only agree to a phased disarmament process contingent upon Israeli actions, avoiding the term "disarmament" in its statements. The Board of Peace's roadmap includes transferring Gaza's governance to a Palestinian technocratic body, but it remains unclear how compliance will be enforced.
The roadmap also faces opposition within Israel's government, with some ministers expressing concerns about the implications of the plan. The ongoing situation raises questions about whether Hamas is genuinely prepared to surrender its weapons or if it is seeking to maintain its power during the reconstruction process.