Iran’s Foreign Minister Reveals Recent Message Exchanges Between Iran and the U.S.

BEIRUT (Reuters) – Iran and the United States have communicated throughout the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, including discussions about the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, as stated by the Iranian foreign minister on Saturday.

"During this war and in recent weeks, there was an exchange of messages between Iran and America," Hossein Amirabdollahian said via a translator at a press conference following his visit to Beirut. He indicated that the U.S. had requested Tehran to urge Hezbollah, which receives backing from Iran, "not to get widely, fully involved" in the conflict against Israel.

Hezbollah has been engaged in frequent skirmishes with the Israeli military along the Lebanese-Israeli border in support of Hamas, and has declared its intent to "fight to the end" if Israel escalates its military actions in Lebanon.

Israel initiated the conflict following a deadly assault by Hamas on southern Israel on October 7, aiming to dismantle the group. The situation has caused widespread unrest in the region, prompting the U.S. to conduct strikes against Iran-affiliated groups in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen in response to an attack on U.S. personnel in Jordan.

Amirabdollahian warned Israel against escalating its military actions towards a wider conflict in Lebanon, asserting that such actions would lead to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s "last day" in office. He emphasized that Iran believes a political resolution is the only solution to end the war in Gaza.

"Iran and Lebanon confirm that war is not the solution, and that we absolutely never sought to expand it," Amirabdollahian stated during a news conference alongside his Lebanese counterpart, Abdallah Bou Habib. He also mentioned ongoing discussions with Saudi Arabia aimed at finding a political solution to the hostilities in Gaza.

This week, Hamas proposed a ceasefire lasting four and a half months, during which the remaining hostages would be released, Israel would withdraw its troops from Gaza, and an agreement would be reached to end the conflict. Netanyahu dismissed the terms as "delusional" and vowed to continue the fight. However, Amirabdollahian argued that Hamas was presenting a "realistic view" and that support for these ideas would be essential to bring an end to the war.

During his visit, Amirabdollahian met with Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister, foreign minister, the speaker of parliament, and Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. Hezbollah’s Al-Manar television reported that Amirabdollahian and Nasrallah discussed the current developments in Gaza and southern Lebanon, including the future situation in Lebanon.

Amirabdollahian is set to continue his travels to Syria, where he will engage with high-ranking officials.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have faced significant challenges in Syria, where they have been assisting President Bashar al-Assad in the civil war since their arrival a decade ago. In recent months, Israeli airstrikes have resulted in the deaths of several Guards members, including a high-ranking intelligence general.