Haley: Iran Reveals Its True Face by Reviving Relations with Hamas

Nikki Haley, the U.S. representative to the United Nations, stated on Thursday, September 9, that Iran has revealed its true face by reviving and improving its relations with the militant group Hamas, and the international community must hold Tehran accountable in this regard. Yahya Sinwar, the head of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, announced on September 6 the improvement of relations with Iran, stating that Iran is the largest supporter of the military wing of this group. According to Reuters, Nikki Haley described the statements of the Hamas leader in Gaza as a 'stunning' admission. Under Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed the Iran nuclear deal with six world powers, Iran is prohibited from exporting and transferring various types of weapons. The U.S. representative at the UN noted the Hamas leader's remarks, saying, 'Iran is showing its true face. Iran must decide whether it wants to be a responsible member of the international community that fulfills its commitments or whether it wants to be a leader of jihadist and terrorist movements. It cannot be both at the same time.' Haley added, 'The international community should have compelled Iran to adhere to international standards long ago, standards that other countries are committed to and based on values such as peace and security.' Reuters reports that neither Iran nor Hamas disclose the extent of Tehran's assistance to this group, but diplomats believe that in recent years, despite a decrease in Iranian aid, this assistance has been directed more towards the military wing, namely the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, rather than the political wing of Hamas. The report states that following Hamas's refusal to support Bashar al-Assad during the Syrian civil war, relations between the group and Iran cooled, which angered Tehran. However, Yahya Sinwar stated on Monday regarding Hamas-Iran relations: 'The relationship is developing and is returning to what it was in the past.' Yahya Sinwar was elected as the leader of Hamas in Gaza in February of this year and spoke with reporters at his first press conference in this position on Monday. Since seizing control of Gaza in 2007, Hamas has engaged in three wars with Israel.