Hamas says seeking to bolster ties with Iran

By Abdul Razak bin Abdullah

ALGIERS

A senior Hamas leader said Sunday the Palestinian group Hamas was seeking to bolster relations with Iran.

Speaking during a visit to Algeria, Sami Abu Zuhri said Hamas is keen on building strong relations with all Arab and Islamic states, including Iran.

“Efforts and contacts are underway to boost relations with Iran and we hope we will achieve something positive,” he said.

He, however, declined to elaborate about these efforts.

Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, has had strong relations with Shia Iran over the years, but the Palestinian group’s support for the Syrian revolution against the Iran-backed Assad regime has strained relations in recent years.