Illustrative: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei meets with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, Iran, June 21, 2023. Photo: Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA via Reuters

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh traveled to Iran to meet Iranian officials on Tuesday, one day after the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian terrorist group.

Iran, whose leaders routinely call for Israel’s destruction, has backed Hamas in the nearly six-month war with the Jewish state. The Iranian regime has for years provided Hamas, which also aims to destroy Israel, with arms, funding, and training.

“Iran stands at the forefront of supporting the cause and people of Palestine,” Haniyeh said during a press conference in Tehran. “I extend special thanks to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, the President of Iran, and the people of Iran.”

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani called Monday’s UN resolution a “positive step”.

“A more important step is effective action for its implementation,” Kanaani said.

The United States abstained from the UN vote, adding to growing tensions between its ally Israel and the Biden administration.

Hamas welcomed the UN resolution but said the ceasefire must be permanent.

“Although this resolution came late and there may be some gaps that need to be filled, the resolution itself indicates that the Israeli occupation is experiencing unprecedented political isolation,” Haniyeh told a press conference in Tehran.

The Hamas chief, who is reportedly a billionaire and lives a life of luxury abroad in Qatar, also argued that Israel is “losing political cover and protection even in the Security Council” and that “the US is unable to impose its will on the international community.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian was at the news conference with Haniyeh but made no comment. The two men met earlier on Tuesday.

According to Iranian press reports, Haniyeh is scheduled to meet other senior officials during his visit.

Tuesday marked Haniyeh’s second visit to Iran since the outbreak of the war in Gaza on Oct. 7, when Hamas terrorists invaded southern Israel, murdered 1,200 people, and kidnapped 253 others as hostages.

Reuters contributed to this report.