‘Hamas ready to release hostages on one condition…’: Iranian Foreign Minister

Speaking at the United Nations, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said that Hamas is ready to release hostages on the condition that 6,000 Palestinians, who are currently in Israeli jails, are released as well.

“According to our negotiations, Hamas is ready to release civilian prisoners. On the other hand, the world should support the release of 6,000 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons,” he told a meeting of the 193-member General Assembly on the Middle East on Thursday.

Amirabdollahian said that Hamas informed Iran about the group’s condition.

Amirabdollahian also issued a warning in his speech, saying that if Israel’s rocket strikes into the Gaza Strip in retaliation for Hamas’s October 7 attack in Israel does not end, then the US will “not be spared from this fire”, Reuters reported.

“I say frankly to the American statesmen, who are now managing the genocide in Palestine, that we do not welcome (an)expansion of the war in the region. But if the genocide in Gaza continues, they will not be spared from this fire,” he said.

Amirabdollahian said that Iran is ready to play its part in the “important humanitarian endeavour” along with Qatar and Turkey. “Naturally, the release of the 6,000 Palestinian prisoners is another necessity and responsibility of the global community,” he added.

Earlier this week, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken told the United Nations that though they don’t want a conflict with Iran, but Washington would act “swiftly and decisively” if Iran or its proxies attacks US personnel anywhere.

Blinken’s statement came amid increasing global fear that the war between Israel and Iran-backed Hamas in Gaza could transform into a wider war, involving Lebanon’s heavily armed Hezbollah, which is also backed by Tehran.

Furthermore, the US military is adopting new measures to protect its troops in the Middle East as concerns about attacks by Iran-supported groups are increasing, officials told Reuters.

The US has sent warships and fighter aircraft to the Middle East in an attempt to thwart Iran and groups backed by the nation, including two aircraft and carriers. Nearly 900 additional troops have either arrived in the Middle East or are en route to the region to bolster air defences for US personnel, Reuters reported on Friday, citing the Pentagon.

The deadly war between Israel and Hamas, which entered its 21st day on Friday, has so far claimed more than 8,000 lives on both sides.