Hamas chief to visit Iran again Hamas chief to visit Iran again
Sunday, February 19, 2006 - ©2005 IranMania.com
LONDON, February 19 (IranMania) - Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal is to visit close ally Iran in the coming days for more high level talks with its leaders, a member of the radical group was quoted as saying.
Hamas representative in Iran Abu-Osama Abd-al Moti told the Iran News paper that his Syrian-based chief, who was last in Tehran in December, would also be meeting Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, AFP reported.
The discussions will cover "various political, regional and international issues," he said.
"We strongly oppose any unjust pressure and threats against the Islamic republic. Hamas will convey this message to the Iranian government and stand by Iran in the face of any international pressures," the representative was quoted as saying.
Iran and Hamas are close allies, sharing their refusal to recognise Israel and opposition to the peace process. In December, Meshaal also declared Iran and Hamas formed a "united front" against Israel.
He also said his group would step up its military operations if the Jewish state takes military action against Iran over its disputed nuclear programme.
"We are not prepared to give the 'Zionist' regime another 15 years to play their old and usual games," the Hamas representative told Iran News.
"The previous bitter experience of the Palestinian nation and the Palestinian authority in negotiating with them has proven that there is nothing to be gained from the continuation of such discussions."
He also vowed Hamas "will force Israel out of Gaza, the West Bank and Qods (Jerusalem)".
"We shall remain the same Hamas as before the elections. Of course, our tactics, rhetoric and language might change and we might adopt a political language that is a bit different. However, we won't be dictated to by the US or Israel or succumb to their pressures," he asserted.
Although Iran is a vocal supporter of Hamas and other Islamic militant organisations, the regime denies allegations it finances these groups, AFP added.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has also stepped an anti-Israeli rhetoric since his shock election win last June, branding the Jewish state a "tumour" that should be "wiped off the map" or moved as far away as Alaska, and dismissing the Holocaust as a "myth".