Shortly after Hamas carried out a major military attack on Israel, Western countries pinned blame on Iran, despite having no concrete evidence that Tehran was involved and early reports that Iranian leaders were just as surprised about the attack as Tel Aviv.

Iran was identified as a likely player because of the attack’s sophistication and planning. The New York Times reported that Iran is skilled at arming and training proxy forces in the region with the capability of disrupting neighboring countries and becoming a major security concern. 

The paper said Tehran has helped Hamas in Gaza design and produce capable rockets that could be used to strike Israel. There has been recent talk about consolidating these forces to prepare for a major war with Israel, the report said. The leader of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, held a recent online meeting with top strategists from these militias in hopes of a new level of cooperation, the report said, citing unnamed officials who attended the meetings. 

The paper said there is no clear answer. Some sources said Iran had a direct link, while others said the link was merely passive. 

“The implementation was all Hamas, but we do not deny Iran’s help and support,” Ali Barakeh, a senior Hamas official in Beirut said.

Nir Dinar, an Israeli military spokesman, told reporters that there is no information to suggest that Iran “initiated or was involved or directly assisted in the terrible attack.”

The Times reported in the early days after the Hamas attack that evidence showed Iran was surprised by the attack and that the U.S. doubted that Iran played any role. Morgan Muir, a senior U.S. intelligence official, told members of Congress last week that there was no direct link.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken told NBC News last week that there’s no “direct evidence” that Iran was involved.

“Iran has had a long relationship with Hamas. Hamas wouldn’t be Hamas without the support over many, many years from Iran,” Blinken said. “And so, we know that. We see that. When it comes to this specific attack, in this moment, we don’t have direct evidence that Iran was involved in the attack, either in planning it or carrying it out.”

TRENDPOST: It is worth noting that some Israeli intelligence officials believe Israel’s previous targeted killings and nuclear facility strikes in Iran did nothing but put the countries on war footing.

Israel has long said that it will not allow Iran to develop weapons-grade uranium and would conduct an all-out war to prevent what it sees as an existential threat. (See “TOP TREND 2023, MIDDLE EAST MELTDOWN: ISRAEL LAUNCHES DRONE ATTACK ON IRANIAN MILITARY FACILITY”31 Jan 2023, “IRAN, RUSSIA MOVE CLOSER AND COULD BECOME ‘FULL-FLEDGED DEFENSE PARTNER’” 13 Dec 2022, “ISRAEL AND U.S. RAMP UP MILITARY DRILLS WITH EYES ON IRAN” 6 Dec 2022, and “GANTZ: ISRAEL CAN STRIKE IRAN’S NUCLEAR FACILITIES, BUT WARNS OF FALLOUT” 15 Nov 2022.)

If Iran bombed an Israeli weapons plant—or any plant—it would be headline news and condemned by the West’s politicians and media. Yet it is perfectly acceptable in the one-sided, lopsided Presstitute media to condone Israel’s attacks on Iran, Syria, the Palestinians… whoever they chose to attack. 

While Iran did not confirm playing a role in the Hamas attack, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei praised Hamas and said, “We kiss the foreheads and arms of the resourceful and intelligent designers.”

He continued, “Those who say that the recent saga is the work of non-Palestinians have miscalculated.”

Two diplomatic sources with knowledge of the situation told Axios that Iran sent Israel a message through the UN that it does not want a further escalation and will intervene if the Israeli operation continues. 

Iran Says U.S. Already Involved in Israeli Conflict

Nasser Kanaani, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, told reporters on Monday that Iran believes the U.S. “is already militarily involved in the conflict between Israel and Palestinians.”

“The crimes of the Zionist regime are carried out with the support of the United States and Washington must be held accountable,” he said, according to The Jerusalem Post. 

The U.S. announced that it will sail its second aircraft carrier to the region and informed about 2,000 troops that they should be prepared to be sent to countries in the Middle East in response to Israel’s ongoing war with Hamas.

One official told The Times of Israel that the American troops will “cover a variety of support roles, such as additional medical support or explosive ordnance support, including providing additional security at gate crossings.”

The reported move comes after Netanyahu warned Israelis to be prepared for a long war.

“This is a time of decisive struggle against those who are trying to destroy us. Our goal is victory, complete victory over Hamas, eliminating once and for all its power and the threat it poses to Israel,” Netanyahu said, according to RT, the Russian news outlet.

Netanyahu also warned Hezbollah not to intervene on behalf of Hamas: “Do not test us in the north, do not repeat the mistake you once made, because now the price you will have to pay will be much higher.”

The Wall Street Journal reported Monday on the U.S. troops and said the forces “are currently stationed both inside the Middle East and outside, including Europe, the officials said. It isn’t clear under what circumstances the U.S. could deploy the troops or to where, but the Pentagon decision signaled it is preparing to support Israeli troops should Israel launch a ground incursion into Gaza.”