Iran and the Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, discussed increasing their resistance to Israel during a meeting in the Qatari capital Doha, DPA reported Sunday, citing Iranian media.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh discussed ways to strengthen the “axis of resistance” against Israel during a meeting on Saturday night, Iran’s state-run IRNA agency reported on Sunday, as quoted by Agerpres.

“Axis of Resistance” means an alliance of militant groups against the Jewish state.

The US fears an escalation of the conflict due to Iran’s intervention

The United States fears an “escalation” of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Sunday. He did not rule out “the possible involvement of Iran.”

“We cannot rule out that Iran will decide to intervene directly in some way, and we have to be prepared for any eventuality,” Sullivan told CBS. “It’s a risk we’ve been aware of since the beginning” of the conflict, he added.

“That’s why the president acted so quickly and decisively to move the aircraft carrier to the Eastern Mediterranean to keep the planes in the Persian Gulf, sending a very clear message to any state or entity that would try to take advantage of this situation,” he added. .

Israel has been an avowed enemy of Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Tehran has expanded its political and military ties in the region since the 1990s.

The Iranian minister warned on Sunday from the capital of Qatar that no one can guarantee control over the situation and the prospect of the conflict expanding if “the attacks of the Zionist regime on the defenseless population of Gaza continue,” the agency reported. press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tehran, taken by AFP.

Hussein Amirabdollahian arrived in Doha after meeting with allies on a trip to Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, including the head of the Shiite militia Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah.

Qatar has been one of the main supporters of Hamas for about 15 years. The wealthy Gulf emirate supports the Islamist movement mainly from a political point of view and provides financial aid, for example, to rebuild infrastructure after Israeli attacks. Khaniya himself lives in Qatar.

At the same time, Qatar also took on the role of mediator with the West. On Thursday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz received the Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Berlin.

• WATCH THE WHOLE WAR IN ISRAEL LIVE HERE – DAY 9