Iran Tries to Fold the Palestinian Front Into Talks With Washington

A diplomatic source familiar with the U.S.-Iran negotiations said that the situation in Judea and Samaria and in the Gaza Strip came up during the talks held in Switzerland, at Iran’s initiative. The source told Kan News reporter Roi Kais that the regional discussions mainly focused on Lebanon, but Iran’s effort to bring the Palestinian issue into the talks signals growing confidence and ambition in Tehran.

According to the report, Iran believes it has already succeeded in linking its own file with the Lebanese arena, and is now seeking to connect the Palestinian arena as well. That broader push appears to be part of Iran’s effort to widen the scope of any understandings reached with Washington beyond the immediate nuclear or regional tracks.

In a related development, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke by phone this week with senior Hamas official Basem Naim. Naim praised Tehran for the understandings reached with the Americans and for its pro-Palestinian positions.

Araghchi, for his part, said Iran has not forgotten the Palestinians and raises their issue whenever possible, including in its contacts with mediators.