TEHRAN(Bazaar) – Professor Frank N. von Hippel, former assistant director for national security in the White House Office of Science and Technology, says after Hamas Israel war, it will be difficult for Saudi Arabia and Israel to negotiate to improve their relations for at least months.
“This may have been one of the motivations for Hamas’ attack,” Professor Frank N. von Hippel told Bazaar News Agency.
Following is the text of the Bazaar interview with Professor Frank N. von Hippel.
Q: During the war between Hamas and Israel, some sources in America and their affiliated media reported that Iranian money was blocked in Qatar again, which was later denied. Do you think there was a message hidden in this news?
A: I have not seen any denial that the US has blocked disbursement of the funds. The rationale appears to be that, at the very least, Iran equipped Hamas for its attack on Israeli civilians. (Whether any Iranian officials knew about the planned attack is currently unknown.) Israel may also already have committed war crimes in its apparently indiscriminate retaliatory attacks on Gaza.
Q: How likely is it that America will use these funds as leverage against Iran in the future? If so, what will be the harm to America?
A: For the U.S. to renege on the deal it made with Iran would make Iran less willing to negotiate with the U.S. in the future. I hope that, if it is established that Iran did not know of Hamas’ plans, the Qataris will again give Iran access to its funds.
Q: What is the impact of this war on the future of Iran’s nuclear negotiations?
A: It will be difficult for the negotiators to resume talks for at least months until the extent of Iran’s complicity in Hamas’ attacks on Israeli is established. In my view, the US has not done enough to restrain Israel’s indiscriminate retaliatory attacks on Gaza.
Q: What effects will this war have on the future of Iran and Saudi Arabia relations?
A: I think all efforts at tension reduction in the Middle East will be delayed by at least months.
Q: What is the effect of the war between Hamas and Israel on the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel?
A: I think that, after the Hamas attacks on Israel and Israel’s heedless killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza as part of its response, it will be difficult for Saudi Arabia and Israel to negotiate to improve their relations for at least months. This may have been one of the motivations for Hamas’ attack.
