Iranian newspaper closely aligned with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has described Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel as a “grave mistake” that inflicted serious damage on Iran’s regional influence. According to a report by The Jerusalem Post on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, the statement marks one of the first public acknowledgments within Iran’s ruling establishment that the Gaza war has weakened, rather than strengthened, Tehran’s strategic position in the Middle East.
In an editorial published this week, the Islamic Republic newspaper overseen by a representative of Khamenei sharply departed from the regime’s long-standing narrative that celebrated the attack as a victory for the so-called “Axis of Resistance.” “Contrary to many opinions and analyses, the ‘Al-Aqsa Flood’ operation was a mistake,” the paper wrote, referring to Hamas’s coordinated assault that killed and kidnapped thousands inside Israel on October 7, 2023.
The editorial went on to argue that the consequences of the attack have been overwhelmingly negative for Iran and its network of allied militias and governments across the region. It specifically cited Syria’s apparent distancing from Tehran as one of the most damaging developments to result from the conflict. “Syria’s departure from the Axis of Resistance and its shift toward alignment with the United States and Israel is one of the most damaging developments of the past two years,” the paper stated, calling it a “direct outcome” of Hamas’s offensive.
The tone of the piece stands in sharp contrast to previous statements by Iranian officials, including Khamenei himself, who had hailed the October 7 assault as a “historic victory” and a “turning point in the struggle against Israel.” Iranian state media and military commanders had also praised Hamas for “changing the balance of power” in the region.
