Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian warned at the Doha Forum today, Monday, that the continuation of the Gaza war will lead to a regional explosion, explaining that the scope of the conflict has already expanded to include Lebanon and Yemen.

He said during his speech through an English translator in a virtual interview conducted by CNN correspondent Becky Anderson: “At any moment, there is a possibility of a large explosion in the region, which cannot be controlled by any party”.

The Foreign Minister pointed to attacks against American bases in Iraq and Syria, Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea, and violence on Israel’s northern border as evidence that regional violence has expanded beyond the borders of Gaza.

Amir Abdollahian said: “At least every week, we receive a message from the United States informing us that American bases in Syria and Iraq are targeted by some groups; these groups defend the Arab and Muslim people in Gaza; therefore, they target American bases in Syria and Iraq.”

The Foreign Minister added, “Israel, which he said is basically a regional proxy for the United States and cannot be considered a state, cannot defeat Hamas even if it fights it for the next ten years.”

He explained that Hamas is ready to fight for years and can produce and purchase weapons.

According to the Israeli newspaper “Jerusalem Post,” Iran supported Hamas’s infiltration on October 7 into southern Israel, in which the movement killed at least 1,200 people and held about 250 hostages.

The Iranian Foreign Minister said the attack is the direct result of Israel’s establishment 75 years ago, explaining that the lands within its borders are considered occupied Palestinian land, saying, “We do not recognize Israel as a government; it has been an occupying force for 75 years,” and Amir Abdollahian called on the United States to “abandon its unconditional and steadfast support for Israel.”

He continued, “Hamas is a ‘liberation movement against’ this occupation.” He explained that Iran supports “resistance groups” such as Hamas that work to liberate Palestinian lands, adding that this also includes Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad.”

He accused Israel of using disproportionate force in Gaza, pointing to Hamas’s figures that indicate the death of 18,000 Palestinians as a result of the war, while Israel said there are at least 7,000 Hamas fighters.

In discussing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in general, Amir Abdollahian said the best solution is to hold a referendum for the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim populations in that area to ask their opinion on what the decision should be.

But he clarified that Iran does not believe in the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict – and neither does Israel. He added that Tehran wants to see a Palestinian state on all of that land and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants all of it to be part of Israel.

“The only thing we have in common is that neither of us believes in the two-state solution.”

Amir Abdollahian accused Israel of wanting to forcibly displace Palestinians in Gaza to Egypt and the residents of the West Bank to Jordan.

He explained that Iran has not supported regional normalization with Israel either, confirming that Israel acts against the interests of the region, stating, “We have provided documents to some of these countries that have normalized relations to show them that Israel does not belong to them.”