Iran FM Abbas Araghchi says Gaza war to be raised in US talks, reaffirms Hamas support - report

What Happened

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told senior Hamas official Basem Naim in a phone call on Tuesday that Iran stands with Hamas against Israel, and that the Iranian negotiation team will raise 'the issue of the occupiers' ongoing aggression against Gaza' in its talks with the United States, according to the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency. Naim praised Iran's steadfast support for the Palestinian cause and thanked Iran for its consistent position. The call comes against the backdrop of a US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding signed on June 17 by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, which initiated a 60-day negotiation period and includes commitments to end hostilities on all related fronts (including Lebanon), reopen the Strait of Hormuz, grant Iran access to its frozen assets, and hold further discussions on Iran's nuclear programme.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

Araghchi's linkage of the Gaza issue to the US-Iran negotiation track signals Tehran's intent to leverage its non-state alliances as a bargaining chip. The ongoing 60-day diplomatic window—with specific commitments on regional hostilities, the Strait of Hormuz, frozen assets, and nuclear talks—creates a delicate moment where the Gaza question could become intertwined with progress on sanctions relief and de-escalation. The reaffirmation of support for Hamas also risks complicating the talks if perceived by Washington as insincere or obstructive, and could trigger Israeli or Congressional pushback.

Watch For

The 60-day negotiation period from the June 17 MoU expires around August 16; watch for tangible outcomes on Lebanon ceasefire adherence, Strait of Hormuz reopening, and Iran's access to frozen assets. Monitor whether US or Israeli officials publicly respond to Araghchi's declaration on Gaza, and whether further Iran-Hamas coordination is announced. Track any move by the IRGC or its proxies that could violate the MoU's cessation-of-hostilities clause, particularly in Syria or Lebanon.