Unraveling Iran's Enduring Support For Hamas: A Historical Deep Dive

Gunnar Borer Jr. 19 Jun 2025

The question of "since when has Iran supported Hamas" is not merely a historical inquiry; it delves into the complex geopolitical tapestry of the Middle East, revealing a relationship that has profoundly shaped regional conflicts and dynamics. Understanding the origins and evolution of this alliance is crucial for comprehending the current state of affairs in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the broader regional power struggles.

This article will explore the origins, evolution, and implications of Iran's decades-long patronage of Hamas, drawing on established facts and expert analysis to provide a comprehensive understanding of how this strategic partnership has developed over time, its various facets, and its profound impact on the Middle East. We will trace the historical trajectory of this relationship, from its nascent stages to its present-day complexities, shedding light on the motivations, mechanisms, and consequences of Iran's steadfast backing of the Palestinian Islamist group.

The Genesis of an Alliance: Iran's Early Engagement with Hamas
A Steadfast Patron: The Nature of Iran's Support
The Gaza Takeover of 2007: A Strategic Turning Point
Navigating Shifting Sands: Periods of Strain and Rapprochement
The October 7th Attack: Iran's Alleged Role and Nuances of Control
- The "Head of the Octopus" Analogy
- The Debate on Direct Control
The Broader Context: Iran's Regional Proxy Network
Escalating Tensions: Post-October 7th Dynamics
- The Covert War and Counterintelligence
- Legal and International Implications
The Future of the Iran-Hamas Relationship

The Genesis of an Alliance: Iran's Early Engagement with Hamas

The question of "since when has Iran supported Hamas" leads us back to the late 1980s, almost immediately following the group's inception. While Hamas, a Sunni Islamist organization, might seem like an unlikely ally for Shiite Iran, their shared ideological commitment to resisting Israel and confronting Western influence provided a powerful common ground. This strategic alignment transcended sectarian differences, forging a pragmatic partnership rooted in mutual objectives.

Indeed, Iran has backed the Sunni Islamist Palestinian group Hamas for decades, going back nearly to the group’s inception in the late 1980s. This early engagement was driven by Iran's revolutionary foreign policy, which sought to export its anti-imperialist and anti-Zionist ideology across the region. By supporting Palestinian resistance movements, Iran aimed to bolster its credentials as a champion of the Palestinian cause, enhance its regional influence, and challenge the existing pro-Western order.

By the early 1990s, the Islamic Republic of Iran had already begun sponsoring Hamas with military aid and training, alongside crucial financial assistance. This comprehensive support was instrumental in helping the nascent organization establish itself and develop its operational capabilities. The initial stages of this relationship laid the groundwork for what would become a deep and enduring strategic alliance, with Iran providing financial, logistical, and political support to Hamas since the 1990s. This early commitment from Tehran was a significant factor in Hamas's growth and its ability to emerge as a formidable force in Palestinian politics and resistance.

A Steadfast Patron: The Nature of Iran's Support

Over the decades, Iran has remained a key patron of Hamas, providing them with a multifaceted array of support that includes funds, weapons, and training. This patronage is not merely symbolic; it is a substantial and consistent flow of resources that has enabled Hamas to build and maintain its military infrastructure, sustain its political operations, and provide social services in the areas it controls.

The financial component of this support is particularly significant. According to a 2020 US Department of State report, Iran provides about $100 million annually to Palestinian militant groups, with a substantial portion of this sum directed towards Hamas. This consistent funding stream is critical for Hamas, allowing it to acquire weaponry, pay its fighters, and manage its extensive network of activities. The financial aid often comes through complex channels designed to circumvent international sanctions, highlighting Iran's determination to maintain this lifeline to its proxy.

Beyond finances, Iran's military and logistical support is equally vital. This includes providing advanced weaponry, expertise in weapon manufacturing, and training for Hamas operatives. Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, the elite foreign operations arm of the IRGC, has been particularly instrumental in this regard, offering specialized training in tactics, intelligence gathering, and the use of sophisticated arms. This comprehensive backing ensures that Hamas is not merely a recipient of funds but also benefits from strategic guidance and military development, enhancing its capacity to confront Israel.

The Gaza Takeover of 2007: A Strategic Turning Point

A pivotal moment in the Iran-Hamas relationship occurred in June 2007, when Hamas took de facto control of the Gaza Strip after a violent conflict with Fatah, the dominant faction of the Palestinian Authority. This takeover marked a significant shift, transforming Hamas from a resistance group operating within a broader Palestinian political framework into the governing authority of a distinct territory. This new status brought both challenges and opportunities, and Iran quickly adapted its support to leverage this development.

Since Hamas took de facto control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, it has engaged in several rounds of conflict with Israel, with continued material and financial support from Iran. The intensification of Iranian aid post-2007 was a direct response to Hamas's newfound territorial control. With Gaza under its command, Hamas had a more secure base of operations, making it easier for Iran to channel resources and expertise without the direct oversight of the Palestinian Authority.

Over the years, Hamas enjoyed Iranian financial support for its smuggled weapons, which intensified when Hamas came to power in the Gaza Strip in June 2007. This support enabled Hamas to significantly upgrade its arsenal, moving from rudimentary rockets to more sophisticated, longer-range projectiles. Furthermore, a crucial development after Hamas took over the Gaza Strip was that Iran and even Hezbollah began aiding Hamas to develop its own weapons. This shift towards indigenous weapon production, with Iranian and Hezbollah technical assistance, allowed Hamas to become more self-sufficient in its military capabilities, reducing its direct reliance on external arms shipments while still benefiting from Iranian know-how and components.

Navigating Shifting Sands: Periods of Strain and Rapprochement

While Iran's support for Hamas has been largely consistent, the relationship has not been without its complexities and periods of strain. For instance, the Syrian civil war, which began in 2011, created a temporary rift. Hamas, a Sunni organization with ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, found itself at odds with Iran's staunch support for the Alawite-led Assad regime. This ideological divergence led to a cooling of relations, with Hamas reportedly relocating its political headquarters from Damascus and experiencing a reduction in Iranian funding.

However, this estrangement proved to be temporary, driven by strategic imperatives that ultimately outweighed ideological differences. Signs of rapprochement began to emerge, culminating in a significant thawing of relations by the mid-2010s. A key moment illustrating the high-level engagement even during potentially strained periods was the meeting between Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in 2012, underscoring the enduring importance of the relationship to both parties.

Things got back on track in 2017 following the appointment of Yahya Sinwar to lead Hamas in Gaza. Sinwar, known for his close ties to Iran and its regional proxies, prioritized rebuilding the relationship with Tehran. Since that time, Hamas has continued to work closely with Iran, and the benefits for Hamas are clear: renewed financial support, enhanced military training, and access to advanced weaponry. This period of renewed closeness solidified the alliance, demonstrating its resilience in the face of regional political shifts and internal disagreements.

The October 7th Attack: Iran's Alleged Role and Nuances of Control

The Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023, sparked intense debate and scrutiny regarding Iran's role. In the weeks since the attack, pundits have debated whether or not Iran helped Hamas develop the plan for the terrorist assault and if Iran had foreknowledge of the attack. The sheer scale, coordination, and sophistication of the assault immediately raised questions about external assistance, with many pointing fingers at Tehran.

Citing a Hamas source, The Wall Street Journal reported that Iran helped plot the attack and that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) gave it the go-ahead. This report fueled widespread speculation about direct Iranian involvement, suggesting a level of operational coordination that went beyond mere financial and logistical support. However, official Iranian statements have consistently denied direct involvement in the planning or execution of the October 7th attack, while simultaneously praising Hamas's actions.

Yet, even while Iran is complicit in funding and training Hamas, this still does not automatically mean that the Iranian leadership micromanaged the Hamas attack. Experts and intelligence agencies have offered varying assessments, with some suggesting Iran had general foreknowledge but not direct operational control, while others argue for deeper involvement. What is clear, however, is that a recurring theme in the aftermath of the attack is the Hamas leadership’s effort to enlist support for the operation from Iran and its other regional allies, indicating a pattern of seeking endorsement and resources for major operations.

The "Head of the Octopus" Analogy

Following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu framed Iran as the “head of the octopus,” linking its nuclear ambitions to its support for proxy groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. This analogy succinctly encapsulates Israel's long-standing view of Iran as the central orchestrator of regional instability, extending its tentacles through various militant groups to undermine Israeli security and project its power.

This perspective views Iran's nuclear program and its network of proxies as two sides of the same coin, both serving Tehran's broader strategic goals of regional hegemony and confrontation with Israel and the West. From this viewpoint, Hamas is not merely an independent actor but a crucial component of Iran's regional strategy, receiving the necessary resources to carry out its operations in line with Iran's anti-Israel agenda.

The Debate on Direct Control

Despite the significant financial and military assistance, the extent of Iran's direct control over Hamas remains a subject of debate among analysts. Karim Sadjadpour, a leading scholar on Iran at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, says even though Iran is a major funder for Hamas, it does not seem to have direct control over the Palestinian group. This nuanced perspective suggests that while Iran provides substantial resources and strategic guidance, Hamas retains a degree of operational autonomy and makes its own tactical decisions based on its localized interests and objectives.

This distinction is crucial. Iran's support for Hamas is best understood as a patron-client relationship rather than a master-puppet dynamic. Iran empowers Hamas, provides it with the means to operate, and aligns on strategic goals, but it does not necessarily micromanage every detail of Hamas's operations. Hamas, as a Palestinian organization, has its own leadership, decision-making processes, and internal dynamics that shape its actions, even while heavily relying on Iranian backing.

The Broader Context: Iran's Regional Proxy Network

Iran's support for Hamas is not an isolated phenomenon but rather an integral part of its broader regional strategy, which relies heavily on a network of proxy groups. This "Axis of Resistance" includes powerful non-state actors like Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthi movement in Yemen, and various Shiite militias in Iraq and Syria. These proxies serve as Iran's forward operating bases, extending its influence and projecting power across the Middle East without direct military confrontation, thereby avoiding the costs and risks of conventional warfare.

The effectiveness of this proxy network is a cornerstone of Iran's foreign policy. However, this strategy is not without its vulnerabilities. The assassination of Nasrallah, whom Khamenei referred to as his dear brother, marks a major setback for Iran's military ambitions and the Quds Force. His death, which has been met with deep sorrow by the Supreme Leader, is the most significant loss for Iran's proxy network since the killing of Qasem Soleimani in 2020. Such losses highlight the risks inherent in relying on individual leaders and underscore the ongoing covert war between Iran and its adversaries, particularly Israel and the United States.

These setbacks, while significant, do not fundamentally alter Iran's commitment to its proxy strategy, but they do force Tehran to adapt and reinforce its network. The resilience of this network, including its ties to Hamas, is a testament to Iran's long-term investment in these relationships and its strategic vision for the region.

Escalating Tensions: Post-October 7th Dynamics

Since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, which led to widespread destruction of the Gaza Strip and the killing of more than 55,000 Palestinians, tensions between Iran and Israel have escalated dramatically. The conflict has not been confined to Gaza but has reverberated across the region, drawing in Iran's other proxies and leading to a significant increase in direct and indirect confrontations.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel has gradually dismantled these layers, destroying Hamas in Gaza, severely weakening Hezbollah in Lebanon, and, to some extent, containing the Houthis in Yemen. This multi-front campaign by Israel aims to degrade Iran's proxy capabilities and reshape the regional security landscape. The IDF launched ‘Operation Rising Lion’ on Friday with the largest attack on Iran since the 1980s Iraq War, signaling a new phase of direct confrontation that moves beyond proxies.

The post-October 7 landscape has thus seen an intensification of the shadow war between Israel and Iran, with both sides engaging in overt and covert actions designed to weaken the other's strategic position. This escalation underscores the profound impact of the Iran-Hamas relationship on regional stability and the potential for wider conflict.

The Covert War and Counterintelligence

The long-standing conflict between Israel and Iran is often fought in the shadows, characterized by covert operations, assassinations, and cyberattacks. The need for intelligence gathering on Iran's nuclear and military facilities, as well as its support for groups like Hamas, has driven intense covert activity. The latter likely required an extended presence of Israel’s operatives in Iran, a feat all the greater since one would have expected Iran to significantly improve its counterintelligence after previous breaches and assassinations.

This ongoing clandestine struggle highlights the depth of the animosity and the strategic importance of intelligence in managing the complex dynamics of the region. The ability of either side to penetrate the other's security apparatus speaks volumes about the sophistication of their intelligence operations and the high stakes involved in this protracted conflict.

Legal and International Implications

The escalating military actions, particularly Israel's strikes on Iranian targets, raise significant questions about international law. Is Israel’s latest attack on Iran’s military and nuclear facilities legal under international law? And would it be legal for the United States to intervene on Israel’s behalf? These are complex legal and ethical dilemmas that underscore the precarious nature of the current regional environment.

The legality of such actions often hinges on interpretations of self-defense, proportionality, and the concept of state responsibility for the actions of non-state actors it supports. The international community grapples with these questions, as the conflict extends beyond traditional state-on-state warfare to include proxy groups and asymmetric tactics, further complicating efforts to maintain peace and stability.

The Future of the Iran-Hamas Relationship

The future of the Iran-Hamas relationship, particularly in the aftermath of the intense conflict in Gaza, remains a critical question. While Israel's stated goal is to destroy Hamas, the group's resilience and deep roots within Palestinian

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