In a rare expression of direct criticism, Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud ‘Abbas slammed Iran, accusing Tehran of negatively interfering with internal Palestinian issues.

Iran aims to deepen the rift among Palestinians, and this serves neither national interests nor Arab interests, ‘Abbas said on Wednesday.

“Iran should address its own issues, take care of its matters, and avoid interfering with Palestinian matters,” ‘Abbas said at a news conference with United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Ramallah.

Naji Shurab, a political science professor at Al-Azhar University in Gaza, said ‘Abass’ comments were likely in response to a remark made by an Iranian official, who said the government in Ramallah was corrupt.

‘Abbas’ comments could be construed as an effort to show the U.S. that the Palestinians, and especially those who answer to Fatah and the Palestinian Authority, are distancing themselves from Iran.

“[Mahmoud ‘Abbas] is weak, and one of the reasons for his weakness is the failure of negotiation options and strategies,” Shurab told The Media Line.

In order to answer back to the Islamists in the Palestinian territories, ‘Abbas needs the help and support of the U.S. and he wishes to prove that he belongs to the block of the so-called moderates, Shurab said.

Iran is a key sponsor of Hamas, Fatah’s arch rival, which is in control of the Gaza Strip.

Iran stood by the side of the ousted Hamas government throughout Israel’s military operation in January, even though Hamas is a Sunni organization inspired by the Muslim Brotherhood, and Iran is non-Arab and Shi’ite.

Analysts say Hamas gets the vast majority of its support from Iran, including ammunition, weapons, funding, training and political backing.

This has been corroborated by testimonies of Palestinian terrorists who were seized by Israel and reportedly admitted to receiving training and other assistance from Iran; and by ammunition fired by Palestinian bearing insignia tracing back to Iran.

Analysts suggest Iran has an interest in keeping Hamas on its side as a proxy to fight Israel and resist the West.

Iranian and Hamas officials exchanged messages of support and solidarity during a Tehran conference in aid of the war-torn Gaza this week - a further indication of the warm relations between the two.

The conference coincided with Clinton’s first visit to Jerusalem and Ramallah since the new U.S. administration took office in January.

Observers suggest it was also timed to counter the conference in Egypt earlier this week, in which representatives from 75 countries raised around $5 billion for reconstructing Gaza.

Iran criticized Egypt and other participants in the conference, accusing them of siding with Israel during the military offensive.

Iran’s spiritual leader, Ayatollah ‘Ali Khamanai, said the money raised during the Tehran conference should go to Hamas, which he said is the legitimate Palestinian government.

Hamas took over the Gaza Strip in a violent coup in June 2007. That led to a de facto separation between the strip, which is ruled by an internationally-isolated Hamas government, and the Fatah-backed government in Ramallah, which has international recognition.

There are ongoing talks on reconciling the two movements, which could result in a unity government including both factions.