Iran promised Hamas to transfer some $250 million to the Palestinian Authority after Europe and the United States cut off PA funding, according to a report by the London-based Al Hayat newspaper on Tuesday. The promise was made to the head of the movement's political bureau, Khaled Meshal, while he was visiting Tehran last week, the report added.
Also Tuesday, Hamas spokesman in the Gaza Strip, Sami Abu Zuhri welcomed the European Union decision to grant $143 million in urgent aid to the Palestinians before a Hamas-led government takes office.
Meanwhile, talks in Moscow with a delegation of Hamas are due to take place in the Russian Foreign Ministry March 3-4, the Russian foreign minister's envoy for the Middle East peace process Alexander Kalugin told Interfax on Tuesday. "Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Saltanov is due to chair the negotiations in the Foreign Ministry. I do not rule out that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will meet with the [Hamas] delegation," he added.
The Hamas delegation will be led by Mashal, al Hayat reported.
