![\"Majles](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/word-image-1784808789136.jpeg\")
Majles member Ali Khazarian (Khazarian\u2019s X account)![\"Ali-Akbar](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/word-image-1784808789688.jpeg\")
Ali-Akbar Velayati (Khabar Online, July 17, 2026)![\"\u201cA](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/word-image-1784808790970.png\")
\u201cA blockade will be answered with a blockade\u201d: Cartoon by Yemeni cartoonist Kamal Sharaf, affiliated with the Axis of Resistance (Kamal Sharaf\u2019s X account, July 20, 2026)Key Trends<\/p>\n
Iran and the pro-Iranian militias hailed the election of Khalil al-Hayya as Hamas leader, describing it as an achievement for the Axis of Resistance.
\nThe Iranian leadership continues to emphasize its support for all components of the Axis of Resistance.
\nIraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi\u2019s visit to the United States was perceived as a challenge to Iranian influence in Iraq.
\nThe pro-Iranian militias are preparing for escalation due to the confrontation between Iran and the United States.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Highlights[1]<\/p>\n
Senior Iranian officials congratulated Khalil al-Hayya on his election as Hamas\u2019 new head of the political bureau and reiterated Iran\u2019s continued support for the Palestinians. The pro-Iranian militias also welcomed his appointment.
\nAn Iranian member of parliament warned that if Syria\u2019s president confronts Hezbollah, it will accelerate Syria\u2019s \u201cliberation\u201d by the \u201cresistance.\u201d
\nThe commander of the Qods Force declared that the Axis of Resistance would continue to flourish under the leadership of Mojtaba Khamenei.
\nThe advisor to Iran\u2019s Supreme Leader sharply criticized the Iraqi Prime Minister\u2019s visit to the United States during the mourning ceremonies following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
\nThe Houthis and the pro-Iranian militias in Iraq threatened to intensify their attacks if the United States targets Iran\u2019s energy infrastructure. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq announced a $10 million reward for the assassination of President Donald Trump.
\nThe Houthis declared a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia in response to the Saudi blockade imposed on their territories in Yemen.<\/p>\n
Iran and the Militias amid Developments in the Palestinian Arena<\/p>\n
Iran and the Shiite militias of the Axis of Resistance congratulated Khalil al-Hayya on his election as the new head of Hamas\u2019 political bureau, emphasizing that his appointment constituted \u201cproof of the victory of the resistance\u201d:[2]<\/p>\n
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi sent a congratulatory message to al-Hayya, writing that the struggle, faith, and steadfastness demonstrated by the Palestinian leadership, fighters, and people constitute the key to victory in the struggle to liberate \u201cPalestine.\u201d He added that Hamas\u2019 internal elections, conducted under the difficult conditions of the \u201csiege\u201d and amid the continued \u201ccrimes of the occupying Zionist regime\u201d against the Palestinian people, represented a significant achievement for the movement. Araghchi reaffirmed Iran\u2019s firm, continued support for the Palestinian people\u2019s struggle to free themselves from the \u201coccupation, apartheid, and colonialism of the Zionist regime\u201d and wished al-Hayya success in continuing \u201cthe path of jihad and resistance until the liberation of the holy land of Palestine and Jerusalem and the achievement of the Palestinian people\u2019s fundamental rights, foremost among them the right to self-determination\u201d (Fars, July 20, 2026).
\nQods Force Commander Esmail Qaani also issued a congratulatory message to al-Hayya, stating that his election demonstrates the continuity of the path of the \u201cIslamic resistance.\u201d Qaani added that the \u201cZionist regime\u201d has been compelled to acknowledge that despite all the \u201ccrimes\u201d it has committed, it has not only failed to halt the \u201cresistance,\u201d but it is now stronger than ever and continues along its honorable and proud path (IRNA, July 20, 2026).
\nThe political bureau of the Houthi movement congratulated Hamas on al-Hayya\u2019s election. In a statement, it expressed confidence that his appointment would \u201cincrease the brilliance, strength, and resilience of the Palestinian resistance,\u201d noting that al-Hayya is among the Palestinian leaders who emerged from the suffering, pain, and aspirations of the Palestinian people. The statement added that Hamas had demonstrated through this election that \u201cthe Palestinian resistance cannot be broken and that the Israeli enemy\u2019s objectives of eliminating the resistance have failed.\u201d It further emphasized that the Houthi movement stands alongside the Palestinian people and their \u201cjust cause,\u201d and that the Islamic nation bears responsibility for supporting \u201cthe steadfastness and resistance of the Palestinian people in light of the continued Israeli crimes and the suffocating, ongoing siege imposed on the oppressed Palestinian people\u201d (Telegram channel of the Houthi movement, July 20, 2026).
\nKata\u2019ib Hezbollah congratulated Hamas on the election of Khalil al-Hayya. The pro-Iranian Iraqi militia stated that the appointment constituted \u201ca painful blow\u201d to the enemies of the Palestinian people and confirmed that \u201cthe resistance movements will continue to serve as an inexhaustible source and an inextinguishable flame on the path to victory\u201d (Kata\u2019ib Hezbollah Telegram channel, July 20, 2026).
\nThe Harakat al-Nujaba movement also welcomed al-Hayya\u2019s election, describing him as \u201cthe right man in the right place,\u201d who devoted his life to advancing the principles of true Islam and rejecting oppression and tyranny. The movement noted that he had \u201coffered\u201d four of his sons as shaheeds who died on the path of liberation, dignity, and honor. It reaffirmed its support for Hamas, declaring that \u201cyour jihad is our jihad\u201d (Harakat al-Nujaba Telegram channel, July 21, 2026).<\/p>\n
The Iranian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned what it described as \u201cthe escalation of the Zionist regime\u2019s military attacks and terrorist operations against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank,\u201d including the IDF strike on July 14, 2026, on a police station in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, in which the police commander and several police officers were killed. According to the Foreign Ministry\u2019s statement, Israel had \u201cviolated\u201d the ceasefire agreement more than 3,600 times since the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip approximately nine months earlier, resulting in the deaths of more than 1,100 Palestinians, including women and children. The ministry further claimed that Israel was preventing the entry of essential humanitarian supplies into the Gaza Strip. It asserted that despite the continuation of what it called \u201cgenocide and heinous crimes in the Gaza Strip,\u201d the \u201cPeace Council\u201d had not only failed to act to stop the \u201ccrimes of the Zionist occupiers,\u201d but had become a tool for whitewashing the crimes of the \u201cchild-killing regime\u201d with comprehensive and continued American support and because of the UN\u2019s ineffectiveness. The Iranian Foreign Ministry also argued that the US administration was complicit in these \u201ccrimes\u201d and in the continuation of the Palestinians\u2019 \u201cgenocide\u201d and should therefore be held accountable. It called on the international community, particularly the United Nations and the Islamic countries, to fulfill their legal and moral obligations by acting \u201cto stop the genocide, end the occupation, realize the Palestinian people\u2019s right to self-determination, and prosecute and punish the Zionist criminals\u201d (ISNA, July 15, 2026).
\nIn his weekly speech, Houthi leader Abd al-Malik al-Houthi addressed the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, accusing Israel of attacking the Palestinians through continued \u201ckilling, destruction, and siege\u201d while \u201cviolating\u201d all its agreements, including the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip (Almasirah, July 16, 2026).<\/p>\n
Iran and the Militias amid Developments in Lebanon<\/p>\n
Ali Khazarian, a member of the Majles National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, warned Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa that if he chooses to confront Hezbollah in Lebanon, it will accelerate the process of Syria\u2019s liberation by the \u201cresistance forces\u201d (Fars, July 19, 2026). His remarks followed the announcement by the Syrian authorities that they had foiled an attempt to smuggle a large shipment of advanced weapons from the Iraqi border through Syrian territory to Hezbollah in Lebanon.<\/p>\n
Majles member Ali Khazarian (Khazarian\u2019s X account)<\/p>\n
In his weekly address, Houthi leader Abd al-Malik al-Houthi criticized the Israeli strikes and destruction in Lebanon, praised Hezbollah for its steadfastness, and accused the Lebanese government of exerting pressure on Hezbollah in the service of American-Israeli interests (Almasirah, July 16, 2026).<\/p>\n
Qods Force Commander\u2019s Message of Support for the \u201cResistance\u201d<\/p>\n
Qods Force Commander Esmail Qaani emphasized Iran\u2019s support for the Axis of Resistance. In a message addressed to the commanders and fighters of the Axis of Resistance, Qaani expressed appreciation for the support extended by Iran\u2019s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei to the Axis. He stressed that under the current Supreme Leader as well, \u201cwe will continue to advance along the radiant and glorious path of the resistance,\u201d a path that the Supreme Leader has repeatedly endorsed and continues to endorse (Mehr, July 19, 2026).<\/p>\n
Iran\u2019s Involvement in Iraq<\/p>\n
Ali Akbar Velayati, the Supreme Leader\u2019s advisor for international affairs, sharply criticized Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi\u2019s visit to the United States, describing it as an inconceivable blow to the struggle and efforts of the Iraqi people and as a source of great pain for every Muslim and every free person. In an article he published, Velayati wrote that the very fact that the visit took place on a timetable set by President Trump, whom he described as an \u201cevil Satan\u201d and compared to Pharaoh, Genghis Khan, and Hitler, was incomprehensible. Velayati added that he did not know the purpose of the visit and argued that had al-Zaidi consulted respected religious and other prominent figures in his country, he would have understood Iraq\u2019s place in Islamic history. Velayati was particularly critical of the timing of the visit, which took place during the mourning ceremonies following the death of Iran\u2019s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. He also criticized al-Zaidi for responding only mildly to President Trump\u2019s remarks, in which Trump expressed pride over the killings of former Qods Force Commander Qasem Soleimani and former Kata\u2019ib Hezbollah leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, saying only that he had not been involved in politics at the time of their deaths (Khabar Online, July 17, 2026).<\/p>\n
Ali-Akbar Velayati (Khabar Online, July 17, 2026)<\/p>\n
In the same context, an analysis published on the Asr-e Iran website highlighted President Trump\u2019s warm reception of al-Zaidi; the Iraqi Prime Minister\u2019s complete avoidance of the Iranian issue during their meeting in order not to provoke either Trump or the leadership in Tehran and the Shiite parties in Iraq; and his evasive response when Trump referred to the killings of Soleimani and al-Muhandis, a response that drew criticism from some Shiite factions in Iraq. The article also noted al-Zaidi\u2019s public commitment to disarming the pro-Iranian Shiite militias and his emphasis on expanding Iraqi-American economic cooperation rather than addressing controversial political issues, including his meetings with representatives of American companies in an effort to encourage investment in Iraq\u2019s oil and energy sectors (Asr-e Iran, July 17, 2026).
\nIranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a telephone conversation with his Iraqi counterpart, Fuad Hussein. Araghchi stated that relations between Iran and Iraq are deep, strategic, and founded on profound historical, cultural, and religious ties, as well as on the shared interests of both peoples. He stressed that these relations should not be influenced by personal or unofficial statements made by various individuals (Tasnim, July 18, 2026).<\/p>\n
The Militias and the Conflict Between Iran and the United States<\/p>\n
According to \u201cthree Iranian and regional sources,\u201d Iran has asked the Houthis to prepare to close the Bab al-Mandeb Strait to oil shipments if the United States attacks Iran\u2019s energy infrastructure. In addition, \u201ca source close to the Houthis\u201d stated that the Houthi armed forces had completed preparations to attack vessels by deploying missiles and drones at strategic positions overlooking the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. \u201cTwo regional sources close to Saudi Arabia\u201d reported that Saudi Arabia is taking the Iranian and Houthi threats very seriously and is aware of the coordination between them regarding maritime traffic in the Red Sea region (Reuters, July 16, 2026).
\nThe Islamic Resistance in Iraq announced a reward of $10 million for the assassination of US President Donald Trump. The organization explained that the reward was in response to Trump\u2019s boasting about \u201chis treachery and aggression in the attack against the leaders of victory, Qasem Soleimani and al-Hajj Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis,\u201d as well as his continued attacks against innocent people (Islamic Resistance in Iraq Telegram channel, July 16, 2026). In a subsequent statement, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq declared that its forces are committed to engaging in direct confrontation with \u201cthe American enemy\u201d if it expands its \u201caggression\u201d against Iran. In such a scenario, the organization stated that it would attack American interests and bases in Iraq and throughout the region with full force. At the same time, it claimed that it had not carried out attacks against American bases in Iraq or elsewhere in the region in recent days (Islamic Resistance in Iraq Telegram channel, July 20, 2026).<\/p>\n
![\"Announcement](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/word-image-1784808790303.png\")
Announcement by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq offering a reward for the assassination of President Trump (Islamic Resistance in Iraq Telegram channel, July 20, 2026)<\/p>\n
Reports indicated that during the past week, more than 24 drones had been launched toward American targets in the Kurdistan Region of northern Iraq, particularly against the US Consulate in Erbil. According to \u201clocal sources,\u201d no organization claimed responsibility for the attacks, while the pro-Iranian militias in Iraq denied involvement (Shafaq News and Kurdistan24, July 15\u201321, 2026).<\/p>\n
The Houthis in Yemen<\/p>\n
Houthi Armed Forces spokesman Yahya Saree announced a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia based on the principle of \u201can eye for an eye,\u201d declaring that it would take effect immediately. He condemned Saudi Arabia for maintaining what he described as a \u201cblockade\u201d on Houthi-controlled areas, arguing that the situation was unacceptable because it was illegal and lacked any legitimacy or justification. According to Saree, the Houthis will not tolerate the continuation of the \u201cblockade and aggression\u201d without taking action and have every right to confront the situation using all \u201cavailable means.\u201d He stressed that the Houthi armed forces are prepared for any escalation or \u201cfoolish act\u201d by Saudi Arabia and warned that any such escalation would be met with a \u201ccomprehensive and decisive\u201d response (Yahya Saree\u2019s Telegram channel, July 20, 2026). In response, Turki al-Maliki, the official spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, stated that coalition forces would respond with full force to threats against maritime vessels, stressing that attacks on such vessels constitute a blatant violation of international law (X account of the spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, July 20, 2026).<\/p>\n
\u201cA blockade will be answered with a blockade\u201d: Cartoon by Yemeni cartoonist Kamal Sharaf, affiliated with the Axis of Resistance (Kamal Sharaf\u2019s X account, July 20, 2026)<\/p>\n
In his weekly speech, delivered before the announcement of the maritime embargo, Houthi leader Abd al-Malik al-Houthi accused the United States, Britain, and Israel of being \u201cthe primary driving force\u201d behind all the wars and conflicts in the region and of supporting Saudi Arabia, which he claimed acts as their full partner and plays a \u201cdestructive role\u201d in the Arab world. He further alleged that, over the years, Saudi Arabia has harmed both the Palestinian and Yemeni peoples through military and political cooperation with Israel and has prevented any meaningful Arab response in support of the Palestinians during the \u201cGaza war\u201d (Almasirah, July 16, 2026).
\nA \u201csource in the Houthi Ministry of Defense\u201d claimed that an Israeli intelligence-gathering aircraft had assisted the Saudi military in attempts to intercept Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia\u2019s Abha International Airport on July 13, 2026. According to the source, the aircraft \u2013 a Gulfstream platform designed for signals intelligence, communications interception, and intelligence collection \u2013 had taken off from Nevatim Air Base in Israel (Al Mayadeen, July 16, 2026).<\/p>\n
The Militias in Syria<\/p>\n
The Islamic Resistance Front in Syria \u2013 Possessors of Might (Uli al-Ba\u2019s, or UAB) condemned IDF activity in the village of Khader, near Quneitra in southern Syria, alleging that it involved raids and arrests. The militia praised what it described as \u201cthe heroic and honorable resistance of the village\u2019s residents to the occupier\u2019s arrogance\u201d and called on the residents of al-Suwayda to look closely at what \u201cthe enemy is inflicting upon their brothers in Khader\u201d and recognize its \u201ctrue treacherous face.\u201d The militia also warned the \u201cZionist enemy\u201d that continued operations in southern Syria would be met with a crushing response from its fighters (Islamic Resistance Front in Syria Telegram channel, July 15, 2026).<\/p>\n