The British newspaper The Sun quoted Israeli intelligence experts reporting that the Iranian regime is working to rearm Hamas and rebuild its regional axis of influence. The newspaper added that this move could be a prelude to a new round of conflict with Israel.
Raz Zimmt, a former officer of Israeli military intelligence, said that Tehran, after the weakening of its proxy forces in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza, is trying to use the current opportunity to rebuild its power and “is more determined than ever to create a nuclear weapon.”
Zimmt, referring to the comments made by Ali Akbar Velayati, advisor to the Iranian regime’s supreme leader, about the possibility of renewed conflict, warned that despite suffering heavy losses during the twelve-day war, Iran has found greater motivation to pursue nuclear weapons.
Hezbollah Secretly Rebuilding Itself with Help from Iran’s Regime
On October 9, Velayati wrote on the social media platform X: “The start of the ceasefire in Gaza may be the behind-the-scenes end of the ceasefire somewhere else.”
He referred to the countries “Iraq, Yemen, and Lebanon.”
U.S. President Donald Trump, in response to Hamas’s threats, said that if the group refuses to disarm, the United States “will disarm them swiftly and severely.”
According to Trump’s twenty-point peace plan, Hamas must hand over all its weapons for the Gaza agreement to be implemented.
Zimmt emphasized: “Israel should be aware of the fact that Hamas is down but not out. So, I think it should be considered by Israel as a temporary situation.”
Following the peace agreement between Israel and Hamas, the Iranian regime’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement supporting the accord, saying that Tehran has always supported any action or initiative that ensures an end to the war, the withdrawal of Israeli troops, the delivery of humanitarian aid, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and the restoration of Palestinian rights.
However, experts believe that the Iranian regime’s role in supporting armed groups and Israel’s reaction to any potential threat from Iran could determine the future political and security landscape of the region.
The Iranian regime’s effort to rebuild Hezbollah
The French daily Le Figaro also reported on Hezbollah’s covert efforts to rebuild itself, writing that although the group has agreed to disarm in southern Lebanon, it continues to hold weapons in other areas under its influence and, with the help of Iranian regime operatives and extensive internal restructuring, is secretly rebuilding its organization.
According to the report, about two weeks later, Iranian regime forces led by Esmail Qaani, the commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), intervened and rebuilt Hezbollah’s military structure within ten days, though the group’s political leadership remained vacant.
