Conflicting Reports on Iran's Proposal to Refrain from Responding to Israel's Attack in Exchange for a Ceasefire in Gaza

The Arabic-language media outlet 'Jadeh Iran' reported, citing an Arab diplomatic source, that the Iranian government has told the United States that it will refrain from responding to Israel's deadly attack on its consulate in Damascus if a ceasefire is established in Gaza. The media outlet reported on Sunday that the unnamed source stated on Friday: 'If the U.S. manages to control the situation, it will be a significant success for the Biden administration, and we can work based on that.' The Persian section of Voice of America has sought the opinions of American officials on this matter and will publish the responses as soon as they are received. The publication of this news in 'Jadeh Iran' comes as the Iranian news agency ILNA reported that the Kuwaiti newspaper 'Al-Jarida' cited a source in the Iranian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday, stating that the U.S. is still trying to dissuade the Islamic Republic from responding to last week's Israeli attack. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian traveled to Damascus on Tuesday after meeting with Omani officials in Muscat, the capital of Oman. Amir-Abdollahian's visit to Syria comes a week after the deadly attack attributed to Israel against the Iranian consulate in Damascus, which resulted in the deaths of seven senior members of the Quds Force, including Mohammad-Reza Zahedi, the head of this force in Lebanon and Syria. Senior Iranian officials, including Ali Khamenei, the leader, and senior military commanders, immediately pointed the finger at Israel and have repeatedly warned that they will not leave it unanswered. In contrast, Israel has remained silent about attacks attributed to it against the positions of the Islamic Republic and its proxy groups in Syria, as per its usual practice in recent years. However, senior military and political officials in Israel have stated that they are fully prepared to confront the threats from the Iranian government since the attack on the consulate in Damascus and have taken necessary defensive and offensive measures. Amid speculation about a possible agreement between Israel and Hamas regarding a ceasefire and the release of hostages, a Hamas official told Reuters that 'no progress' has been made in the Cairo negotiations. Israel and Hamas sent their negotiating teams to Cairo on Sunday. In these negotiations, the United States, led by CIA Director William Burns, Qatar, and Egypt are also present. The Hamas official, who wished to remain anonymous, claimed in an interview with Reuters that Israel has not changed its previous position, and for this reason, the Cairo negotiations have not led to any new developments. Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen stated on Sunday that after the negotiations that led to a temporary ceasefire last December, the positions of Israel and Hamas regarding a ceasefire have never been this close to each other. Simultaneously, two Egyptian security sources announced that both Israel and Hamas are willing to make concessions that would pave the way for a ceasefire. According to them, during a three-phase ceasefire, Israeli hostages will be released, and displaced persons from northern Gaza will return to their homes. These two sources added that based on the proposal of the mediating parties, the return of the displaced persons to northern Gaza will take place in the presence of a force composed of several Arab countries and under the supervision of Israeli forces, after which the Israeli forces will return to their own territory. Background: Following Hamas's terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the hostage-taking of over 250 others, Israel launched an offensive against Gaza aimed at destroying this Islamist group supported by the Islamic Republic and freeing the hostages. This offensive has caused the majority of the 2.3 million population of Gaza to become displaced, who urgently need food and other necessities of life. Despite the devastating consequences of Hamas's terrorist attack on Israel, officials of this Islamist group have repeatedly emphasized that they will carry out similar attacks again if they can. Hamas, without mentioning the number of its members killed as a result of the Israeli offensive in Gaza, claims that more than 33,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed so far, and about 76,000 others have been injured. The Persian section of Voice of America cannot independently verify or confirm the statistics provided. The United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Japan, Israel, and several other countries have listed Hamas as a terrorist organization. Progress in Gaza ceasefire negotiations; Egyptian state media reports that agreement has been reached on 'essential points.' Khamenei's senior advisor threatens Israeli embassies: how it will happen, we must wait for time. Israel says it is prepared for a potential confrontation with the Islamic Republic. Continued U.S. air assistance to Gaza; CENTCOM: 739 tons of aid delivered to Gaza residents. The White House: The reduction of Israeli forces in southern Gaza is likely for 'rest and recuperation.' Netanyahu's promise of 'complete victory' over Hamas: A ceasefire in Gaza is impossible without the return of hostages. The UN Secretary-General: Nothing can justify the brutality that Hamas unleashed on October 7. The UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs: We have reached a 'terrible turning point' in the Gaza war. The possibility of negotiations for the release of hostages and establishing a ceasefire on Sunday; a Hamas representative goes to Cairo. U.S. warning to the Islamic Republic: Do not use the Israeli attack on Damascus as an excuse to target our personnel and facilities. Full U.S. readiness to confront threats from the Islamic Republic.