Hamas, Iran Rebuilding Military Ties in Tehran

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Key Hamas leaders held meetings with top Iranian lawmakers and officials in a bid to repair “historic relations” with Tehran, according to Hamas officials quoted in the Iranian press on Tuesday.

Hamas is seeking to rebuild it weapons caches and capabilities following its latest war with Israel this summer and views Iran as one of its best sources.

The meetings also are about relationship building and renewing ties between the historically close allies.

Relations between Hamas and Iran have been strained since early 2012, when Hamas distanced itself from Tehran following its support of the Assad government in Syria, according to Jonathan Schanzer, vice president for research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD).

While Iran continued to provide advanced training weaponry aid to Hamas—much of which was used against Israel over summer—Tehran had cut off its cash contributions to the terror group, a move that chilled the normally tight relationship.

However, “after this summer’s war, I think both sides realized that they need each other,” Schanzer said. “This is an attempt to realign.”
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