Hamas leader denies military aid from Iran

DAMASCUS, Syria, June 21 (UPI) -- The head of Hamas, the group controlling Gaza, denies that it gets military assistance from Iran.

Khaled Meshaal, in an interview with Euronews.net, said that the claim of an "axis" between Iran, Gaza and the Hezbollah movement in Lebanon is an "American vision." Meshaal lives in exile in Syria.

"There isn't any military support," he said. "There is however financial support to the Haniyeh government from certain Arab countries. What is the problem? It's the Palastinian people's right."

Meshaal said that Hamas would never recognize Israel but would be willing to negotiate with it if the country gives up claim to territories outside its 1967 borders, accepts East Jerusalem as capital of the Palestinian state and grants the right of return to Palestinians. He accused Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of negotiating with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas only to solve his own domestic problems.

"The conflict with Israel has to be managed in a global way and when Israel becomes mature and accepts the rights of the Palestinians, then we will decide to adapt our position," he said.