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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has told Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya that Tehran will support any initiative or decision taken by Palestinian leaders in ongoing indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel, as reported by Iranian state media and cited by the Jerusalem Post. The pledge came during a phone call with al-Hayya, according to the same report.

Coverage Comparison

The Jerusalem Post and Fox News both reported on the phone call, though with slightly different emphasis. The Jerusalem Post, citing Iranian state media, framed the call as Tehran's backing of Palestinian decisions in the negotiations. Fox News, citing a Hamas statement, reported that Pezeshkian congratulated al-Hayya on his election as head of the group's political bureau and pledged continued support for the Palestinian cause, with Pezeshkian quoted as saying, "We are with you, and we support you in every action you take, despite the attacks we are facing."

Both outlets also covered the broader context of the US-announced disarmament agreement. President Donald Trump announced Thursday on Truth Social that the Board of Peace had reached a "HISTORIC agreement for the COMPLETE DISARMAMENT of Hamas and all other armed groups in Gaza," a claim carried by both Fox News and the Jerusalem Post. The Jerusalem Post quoted senior White House Board of Peace officials saying that "Hamas had a lot of concerns. It took months of delicate negotiations to bring us to this breakthrough, and we will move in the coming weeks to advance its implementation."

However, the outlets diverged on the role of Iran. Fox News highlighted what it called a "central contradiction" between the White House's presentation of the agreement and Iran's simultaneous reaffirmation of support for Hamas, noting that Tehran's backing raises questions about Hamas's willingness to disarm. The Jerusalem Post, in a separate report, detailed that Hamas representatives reportedly met with officials from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) during a recent visit to Iran for the funeral of former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, and that IRGC officials urged the delegation not to sign the disarmament deal, as reported by Axios. That report also cited a senior US official claiming Iran tried to convince Hamas not to sign but that the group chose not to listen.

Key Claims

  • Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian telephoned Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya, pledging Iran's support for any decision taken by Palestinian leaders in the negotiations, as reported by the Jerusalem Post and Fox News.
  • President Donald Trump announced that the Board of Peace reached an agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas and all other armed groups in Gaza, as reported by both outlets.
  • The Board of Peace's agreement includes a 15-point roadmap for disarmament and reconstruction of Gaza, a detail reported by Fox News.
  • Hamas representatives reportedly met with IRGC officials in Iran, who urged them not to sign the disarmament deal, as reported by the Jerusalem Post citing Axios.
  • Israel will not withdraw from its current line in the Gaza Strip and will continue to thwart any threat to its civilians and soldiers, according to a claim reported by the Jerusalem Post.
  • Hamas says it has agreed only to a phased and conditional process involving the storage of weapons after Israel stops its attacks, withdraws its forces, and allows more aid into Gaza, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.

Perspectives

Iranian Government: President Pezeshkian pledged Tehran's support for any decision taken by Palestinian leaders, stating that Iran is "with" Hamas and supports it "in every action you take," according to a Hamas statement cited by Fox News.

US Administration: President Trump announced the Board of Peace agreement as a "monumental step toward lasting peace and security," with senior White House officials describing months of delicate negotiations leading to the breakthrough, as quoted by the Jerusalem Post.

Hamas: The group says it has agreed only to a phased and conditional process involving the storage of weapons, contingent on Israel stopping attacks, withdrawing forces, and allowing more aid into Gaza, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.