Hamas: Mashaal’s Visit to Riyadh Not to Influence Relations with Iran

“The visit of a delegation from this movement, including Khaled Mashaal, to Saudi Arabia and improvement of Hamas-Riyadh relations will not influence our ties with Tehran,” Salah al-Bardawil said on Sunday.

He noted that Hamas will maintain its relations with all those who financially, military and spiritually support the movement.

It is for the first time in the past three years that Mashaal pays a visit to Saudi Arabia.

In March, Deputy Politburo Chief of Hamas Movement Ismail Haniyeh underlined that the Palestinian nation and resistance movement are determined to consolidate their good relations with Iran.

“The Palestinian nation and resistance is honored by its close and intimate relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran and is resolved to continue them powerfully,” Haniyeh said in a phone conversation with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

Also in March, senior Hamas official Mahmoud al-Zahar underlined that the Palestinian resistance movement was determined to continue its good relations with Iran.

“The movement has good relations with Iran and it is persistent in maintaining these ties because Iran unlike others helps Hamas without expecting anything in return,” Al-Aqsa satellite television network quoted Al-Zahar as saying.

He pointed to Hamas’s relations with other countries, and said, “The movement has good relations with (other) Arab and Muslim states, such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE as well.”