Iranian Foreign Minister Meets With Hamas and Qatari Leaders as Support for Proxies Persists  

Latest Developments

• Iran Pledges Continued Support for Hamas: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with officials of the Iran-backed terrorist group Hamas in Doha on January 30, as well as Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. The Hamas delegation was led by Mohammed Darwish, leader of its Shura advisory council, and Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas’s top ceasefire negotiator. Araghchi reportedly affirmed Iran’s support for the group and praised its October 7, 2023, massacre in Israel as a “turning point” for the Palestinians.
• Iranian Diplomats Smuggle Cash to Hezbollah: Citing a U.S. defense official, The Wall Street Journal reported on January 31 that Israel has lodged a complaint to the U.S.-led committee overseeing its ceasefire with the Iran-backed terrorist group Hezbollah in Lebanon. The Israelis accused “Iranian diplomats and others of smuggling tens of millions of U.S. dollars stuffed into suitcases through the Beirut airport” to Hezbollah. The complaint also alleges that Iran has also been using Turkish citizens to carry money from Istanbul to Beirut. Turkish and Lebanese officials have denied that the cash smuggling, which would violate the ceasefire agreement, is occurring through their airports.
• Hezbollah Attempts to Reestablish in Southern Lebanon: Hezbollah has continued to violate the terms of the ceasefire, which requires it to pull back north of the Litani River, with multiple attempts at rearming and rebuilding its infrastructure in southern Lebanon. On January 28, the IDF conducted an airstrike on a convoy of vehicles involved in transferring weapons, while the next day, a Hezbollah engineering vehicle was targeted.

FDD Expert Response

“This is further proof of Lebanon’s unwillingness to restrain Hezbollah or curb the group’s path to resurgence. Hezbollah suffered considerable setbacks, including damage to its financial infrastructure, during the recent war. But celebrations of Hezbollah’s demise, as usual, were premature. The organization’s pathways to regeneration have been complicated — by the war and by events in Syria — but so long as Lebanon remains unwilling to take the actions necessary to cut off the group, its resurgence is virtually guaranteed, even if it will take longer than before.” — David Daoud, Senior Fellow

“The increasingly fragile Islamic Republic, fearing the return of Trump’s ‘maximum pressure’ strategy, is unlikely to abandon its first line of deterrence: its network of proxy terrorist groups. As long as Tehran has a foundation to build on, it will continue to prioritize its regional ambitions over the well-being of ordinary Iranians.” — Janatan Sayeh, Research Analyst

“Qatar is once again proving that its Major Non-NATO Ally status is undeserved. Doha is enhancing its partnership with Tehran and continuing to serve its longstanding Hamas clients while playing host to 10,000 American troops. It’s time for Washington to drop the illusion that Qatar is a good-faith ally befitting of American trust.” — Natalie Ecanow, Senior Research Analyst

FDD Background and Analysis

“‘Several Serious Blows’: Iranian FM Admits ‘Damage’ to Proxies,” FDD Flash Brief

“Lebanon Ceasefire Between Hezbollah and Israel Extended to February 18,” FDD Flash Brief

“‘Not Written in Stone’: Israel Set to Extend Lebanon Truce Deadline,” FDD Flash Brief