Iran has the upper hand against Trump. Why isn’t it speaking up for Palestine?

The Middle East remains in a state of uncertainty, with little expected to change in the near future due to the ongoing US-Iran conflict. The US has faced a double setback in this regard. Firstly, despite initiating a war of choice on February 28, the US failed to overthrow the Iranian regime. Secondly, they were unable to achieve a favorable outcome or withdraw troops from the region, as they now find themselves in a precarious position, potentially for the duration of Trump's presidency.

The situation in the region is complex and ambiguous, making it difficult to pinpoint clear winners or losers. While Trump may seem triumphant in the domestic arena in Iran, the Revolutionary Guards are likely to suppress any internal upheaval, preventing such a victory. As it stands, Iran currently holds the upper hand and is strategically outmaneuvering US strategists.

Iran's demands in the Memorandum of Understanding signed on June 17 are minimal, with no mention of Palestinian issues such as the Israeli army's withdrawal from Gaza or the two-state solution. Similarly, Iran's latest list of demands, released two weeks ago, fails to acknowledge the Palestinian cause. It appears that the Palestinians have been excluded from Iran's considerations, even as the country is exerting influence in the Strait of Hormuz and negotiating concessions with the US.

The Iranian ruling clergy has chosen not to prioritize the Palestinian issue due to their immediate needs. They aim to halt attacks on Iran and its allies in Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen, and Iraq, lift the US naval blockade, withdraw US air forces from around Iran, provide compensation for war damage, release frozen Iranian assets, and ensure the unconditional release of Iranian assets.

The Palestinian issue, despite its dire circumstances, is not a top priority for Iran at this time. This silence on the Palestinian issue reveals the regime's use of the Palestinian cause for anti-Americanism and anti-Israel sentiments. By appropriating the Palestinian cause, Iran radicalizes Hamas against the secular Palestinian national movement.

Additionally, Iran supports Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad due to ideological alignment and rejection of the two-state solution with Israel. The secular nationalists of the Palestinian Authority, however, oppose the Ayatollahs and advocate for a two-state solution with Israel.