Iran's Strategic Power Play in Uniting the Resistance, Dividing the Region

The geopolitical landscape of the Middle East has been shaped by centuries of rivalry, alliances, and shifting balances of power. In recent decades, Iran has emerged as a formidable force, positioning itself at the heart of regional resistance movements. One of the clearest examples of this strategic manoeuvring came with the release of a photograph showing the first meeting between Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, and Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas and the mastermind behind the 7 October 2023 attack on Israel.

While at first glance this meeting may appear as a routine show of solidarity, it reveals much deeper currents within Middle Eastern politics. It signals a bold and calculated power play by Iran, which seeks not only to challenge the Western world but also to weaken its traditional rivals within the Sunni establishment.

Iran’s Ambition to be Champion of Resistance

Iran’s foreign policy, particularly since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, has been driven by two intertwined goals: asserting itself as a leading regional power and opposing Western influence, particularly that of the United States and Israel. While Iran is a Shia-majority nation, it has long sought to build alliances across the Muslim world, transcending sectarian lines when it serves its broader strategic interests.

In supporting Sunni movements like Hamas, Iran aims to present itself as the vanguard of the resistance against Israel and, by extension, Western hegemony in the region. This support includes military, financial, and political backing, all while maintaining Iran’s own ideological stance as the leader of a Shia-led resistance.

The meeting between Khamenei and Sinwar underscores Iran's ambition to consolidate its influence across the region, using the Palestinian cause as a rallying point. By doing so, Iran seeks to legitimise its leadership in the eyes of Sunni resistance movements, positioning itself as a unifying force against Israel, despite the historical and theological divisions between Shia and Sunni Islam.

The 7 October 2023 Attack was it a Calculated Move?

The 7 October 2023 attack on Israel, led by Hamas under the leadership of Yahya Sinwar, shocked the world. The attack resulted in significant casualties and further destabilized the already volatile Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While Hamas has historically been seen as a Sunni resistance movement, the close ties between Sinwar and Iran cannot be overlooked.

Iran’s involvement, whether direct or indirect, in this attack points to a larger strategic goal. By emboldening and supporting Hamas, Iran has effectively challenged Israel while indirectly forcing Western powers, especially the United States, to re-engage in the region's conflicts. This creates pressure on Western nations, who must now navigate not only the Israeli-Palestinian conflict but also the broader complexities of Iranian influence across the Middle East.

However, Iran’s ambitions are not limited to weakening Western influence. The attack and its aftermath have exposed fractures within the Sunni world itself.

Dividing the Sunni World is a Calculated Gamble

The Sunni world is far from monolithic. In recent years, significant divides have emerged between Sunni-majority nations that have pursued normalisation with Israel—such as the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia—and those that continue to reject any relations with Israel. Iran’s support for Hamas and other Sunni resistance movements serves as a wedge between these groups.

The meeting between Khamenei and Sinwar, and Iran’s broader involvement in the Palestinian resistance, can be seen as an attempt to drive a deeper divide between Sunni factions. On one hand, Iran seeks to appeal to grassroots Sunni movements, particularly those that remain fiercely opposed to Israel and Western intervention. On the other hand, it positions itself against Sunni-majority governments that have grown closer to the West and Israel, undermining their legitimacy in the eyes of the broader Muslim public.

This dynamic creates a complex web of alliances. Sunni-majority countries like Saudi Arabia, which are traditionally wary of Iranian influence, must now navigate the fallout of both the attack on Israel and Iran's growing prominence in the Palestinian cause. These countries face pressure from within their own populations, many of whom remain deeply sympathetic to the Palestinian cause and view Iran’s involvement as a positive contribution to the resistance.

At the same time, Iran’s support for Hamas is likely to create tensions within the Sunni world itself. Governments that have normalised relations with Israel may find themselves increasingly at odds with grassroots movements that are inspired by Hamas and see Iran as a champion of the resistance. This could lead to internal instability in some Sunni-majority countries, furthering Iran’s goal of weakening its regional rivals.

Weakening Both the West and Sunni Rivals

Iran’s power play is multifaceted. On one hand, it seeks to weaken Western influence by embroiling the United States and its allies in yet another Middle Eastern conflict. The more resources and political capital the West expends on Israel and its security, the less it can focus on countering Iran’s growing influence in places like Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon.

On the other hand, Iran’s strategy also targets its Sunni rivals. By positioning itself as the true champion of the Palestinian cause, Iran undermines the legitimacy of Sunni-majority governments that have either normalised relations with Israel or remain aligned with Western powers. These governments now find themselves in a precarious position, forced to balance their relations with the West and Israel while facing growing dissent from within.

Moreover, Iran’s power play extends beyond the Middle East. Its ability to manipulate divisions within the Muslim world serves its broader goal of positioning itself as a global power, capable of challenging both regional and international norms. The 7 October 2023 attack and its aftermath are just one piece of a larger puzzle in which Iran is seeking to reshape the region’s political landscape.

The Long Game

Iran’s power play, exemplified by the meeting between Ayatollah Khamenei and Yahya Sinwar, is part of a long-term strategy to consolidate its influence in the region while weakening both the Western world and its Sunni rivals. By supporting Hamas and leveraging the Palestinian cause, Iran is positioning itself as the leader of a pan-Islamic resistance movement, transcending sectarian divides when it serves its interests.

At the same time, Iran is capitalising on divisions within the Sunni world, deepening the fractures between Sunni-majority governments and the broader Muslim public. The result is a region that is increasingly polarised, with Iran emerging as a key player in the ongoing geopolitical struggle for influence.

Whether this strategy ultimately succeeds in weakening the West and Iran’s Sunni rivals remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that Iran is playing a long game, one that seeks to reshape the region’s power dynamics in its favour.

By embracing both diplomacy and military support for movements like Hamas, Iran is steadily building its influence, all while challenging the existing order in both the Middle East and the wider world.

The Forgotten Humanity of How the Palestinian People Are Pawned in a Geopolitical Game

It is crucial to highlight the heart of the matter: the immense suffering of the Palestinian people, who have been caught in the crossfire of these geopolitical power plays. For decades, they have endured unimaginable hardships under the Israeli occupation—displacement, violence, and systematic denial of their basic human rights. The Israeli government’s policies have dehumanised the Palestinian people, treating them as obstacles to be crushed rather than as individuals deserving of dignity and freedom.

Yet, tragically, the suffering of the Palestinians does not end with Israel’s actions. Iran, though offering military and political support to Palestinian resistance groups, has its own agenda. For Iran, the Palestinian cause is often a means to a larger end—a geopolitical game that seeks to extend its influence in the region and challenge Western power. While support for the Palestinian struggle may seem genuine, it is often part of a broader strategy that ultimately prioritises regional dominance over the well-being of the Palestinian people themselves.

Caught between these powerful forces, the Palestinian people are often reduced to mere pawns in a larger political chessboard. Whether it is Israel’s brutal occupation or Iran’s strategic ambitions, their humanity is overlooked. To these powerful players, the Palestinian people are not seen as individuals with dreams, families, and lives worth protecting, but as mere tools in a much larger conflict.

In truth, the Palestinian people deserve more than to be used as fodder in this never-ending battle for influence and control. They deserve justice, dignity, and the recognition of their humanity. They are not a means to an end—they are people whose suffering must be acknowledged, whose voices must be heard, and whose rights must be defended by those who truly care about justice, not just by those looking to advance their own agendas.

Ultimately, the world must remember that behind every political manoeuvre, there are real people whose lives hang in the balance. The Palestinian people are not simply victims of circumstance—they are human beings who, like anyone else, long for peace, security, and the chance to live in freedom. Their struggle is not a bargaining chip; it is a cry for justice, and it is high time the world listened.

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