Afghanistan, July 11 -- For more than four decades, the Islamic Republic of Iran has presented itself as one of the strongest defenders of the Palestinian cause. Each year, Tehran marks Quds Day with speeches condemning Israel. Senior Iranian officials routinely describe Palestine as the central issue of the Muslim world, while support for Palestinian armed groups has remained a pillar of Iran's revolutionary identity.
Recent events, however, have exposed a striking contradiction between Iran's rhetoric and its strategic conduct. Since the war in Gaza began, Tehran has shown that while it is willing to support allied groups, issue forceful statements, and promote the language of "resistance," it remains highly cautious when its own nationa...