Osama Hamdan, Hamas’ international relations chief

Ramallah- Hamas declared that it was looking forward to start over a clean slate on cooperation with Iran in a statement that also served to prove the underlying disputes between the two. Osama Hamdan, top representative of Hamas, eight days after the visit of a Tehran-affiliated delegation, said: “We hope that this visit is an introduction to a new page for cooperation between Hamas and the Islamic Republic of Iran”.

Hamdan stated the general atmosphere of the Hamas delegation meeting with Iranian headships was very positive. Iranian media displayed a fair interest in Hamdan’s announcements. Fars News Agency cited Hamdan on his statement praising the firm relationship between Hamas and Iran. “Iran’s support of the Palestinian resistance did not stop, even during the nuclear negotiations”, Hamdan added.

Hamas’s new statements seems to aim at cleaning up the tension caused by the leaked declarations of Mousa Abu Marzook, a senior member of Hamas on Iran lying about supporting the resistance. The leaked information, previously published by Asharq Al-Awsat, also proves Marzook’s clear accusation of Iran vague and preconditioned approach; as any support offered had a prerequisite. He also stated that no assistance has been delivered to the resistance post 2009.

When Hamas decided on backing the Syrian revolution against Bashar al-Assad’s regime, their association with Iran was immediately affected. The relationship with Iran further deteriorated when Hamas refused to side with Iran against Saudi Arabia on the Syrian and Yemeni suits.

The conflict regarding the Arab world is ongoing despite Hamas’s attempts to relieve tensions with Iran. “Hamas is a Sunni movement, and it will not risk losing the support of the Sunni world today”, informed sources reported.

Observers attending the political analysis of the Palestinian movement consider Hamas’s new stance to contradict with its public supporters’ opinion. The new viewpoint adopted is also not in keeping with the “Muslim Brotherhood” ideology which Hamas has been associated with for decades now.

“Muslim Brotherhood” and Hamas spokesmen and writers had strongly criticized the announcement of gratitude towards previous Iranian support and the condolences sent to Hezbollah and Iran-affiliated killed troops fighting in Syria.