Iran has said that it “supports any initiatives that ends the Israeli invasion of Gaza and the ongoing genocide in occupied Palestine, and protects the nation’s rights.” This is how Iran is greeting news of the peace deal that US President Trump was able to achieve for Gaza. Iran’s foreign ministry has said that it reaffirms its support for any initiative aimed at ending the war.
Iran wants to see the IDF withdraw from Gaza to see humanitarian aid increase, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said on Oct. 9. “The statement recalled Iran’s previous declaration about ending the Gaza war and highlighted its diplomatic efforts over the past two years, particularly within the region, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the United Nations, to pressure the Israel regime and its allies to stop the violence and withdraw from Gaza,” Iranian state media IRNA said.
Meanwhile, Iran appears to believe that Trump’s push for peace deals could mean that a new deal could be reached with Tehran. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says that there is no solution but a negotiated outcome about the nuclear issues of the Islamic Republic, IRNA noted. Iran does not accept US demands for “zero enrichment.” However, Iran appears ready for a new round of talks after suffering a snapback of sanctions and other setbacks. “If POTUS was to glance at the minutes of those talks—recorded by our interlocutor—he would see just how close we were to celebrating a new and historic Iran nuclear deal,” Araghchi said.
IRNA, a state media channel, has also emphasized the importance of diplomacy for Iran. “In the turbulent conditions of West Asia, Iran continues to regard diplomacy as the most rational and least costly tool for securing national interests and a strategic approach aimed at maintaining regional stability,” an editorial at the website said. “The persistence of this outlook seems to be placing Iran in the position of a player that possesses both deterrent power and the capacity for interaction—a combination that will be decisive in the future equations of West Asia.”
Iran’s media has published a report on October 9 that also alleges that Hamas believes Israel is “manipulating” the current deal. “Following the announcement of a ceasefire agreement, Hazem Qasim said today that the Israeli regime is trying to exploit clauses related to the list of prisoners and withdrawal from Gaza and is evading discussion of these matters,” IRNA noted.
Iran grows closer to Russia
At the same time, Iran is seeking closer cooperation with Russia. A report at the same Iranian state media noted that “Iran and Russia have held talks to further boost relations on how to leverage the benefits of small modular reactors (SMRs). A delegation led by Nikolai Spassky, deputy for international affairs of the Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom, arrived in Tehran on Wednesday.” The report notes that “during the meeting, both sides held talks on expanding cooperation in small modular reactors (SMRs) and the Iran–Hormoz nuclear power project and 1,250-megawatt units.”
Iran is still trying to put a brave face on its ability to threaten the region. Iran’s Vice-President Mohammed Reza Aref was quoted as saying that anyone who attacks Iran would “beg for a ceasefire. Iran wants to believe it still has the strength to project power in the region. However, it has been weakened and so have its proxies.