World Bulletin/News Desk

A delegation from the Palestinian resistance group Hamas is currently visiting Iran to boost bilateral relations, a source close to the group has said.

The group dispatched three members of its political bureau based outside the Gaza Strip to Tehran to discuss with Iranian officials shoring up relations and preparing for an upcoming visit by Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal, the source told The Anadolu Agency.

A delegation from Gaza was to join the talks, but the current closure of the Rafah border crossing by Egypt hampered their travel plans, added the source.

Both Hamas and Iran, according to the source, showed "enthusiasm" to enhance ties.

Prior to the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings, Hamas, Iran and Syria were seen as an axis against U.S. and Israeli regional influence.

Yet, the eruption of the Sunni-led Syrian uprising in 2011 severed ties with Tehran openly supporting the Alawite-dominated regime of Bashar al-Assad while Hamas distanced itself from Damascus, which had for years hosted top Hamas leaders, including Meshaal himself.