Pentagon Says “Iran in the Picture” But Unclear About Direct Iranian Support to Hamas Attacks

by Kris Osborn, President, Center for Military Modernization

“Iran is in the picture” were specific words used by a Senior Pentagon official when asked about possible Iranian influence or involvement in support of Hamas’ Oct 7 surprise terrorist attack on innocent civilians and children in Israel.

The Senior Pentagon official, when talking Oct. 9 to reporters, was clear to specify important qualifications to this language, meaning that while Hamas is of course known to have been receiving Iranian support over the course of many years, there is not at the moment specific, corroborating evidence linking Iran directly to Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack.

At the same time, a write up in the Wall Street Journal cites comments from Hamas spokesman Ghazi Hamad to the BBC specifically saying that yes indeed Iran “did provide support” to Hamas for its surprise attacks on Israel.

The Pentagon was quite deliberate about avoiding any suggestion of a direct or specific link at this time, but did address the long-standing facts regarding Iran’s support for Hamas.

“Iran is in the picture. Iran has provided support for years to Hamas and Hezbollah, but we have no information corroborating the specifics of the Wall Street Journal story at this time,” the Pentagon official said, according to a DoD published transcript.

Certainly not surprising that the Pentagon would proceed with deliberate care and restraint regarding the question of Iranian involvement, given the potential implications associated with that kind of statement. This being said, the Pentagon is not and has not been reticent about its serious concern for Iranian backing of terrorist groups, to include Hezbollah and Hamas.