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Mohammad-Javad Larijani, a former advisor to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, said in a September 29, 2022 interview on Channel 3 (Iran) that it is highly likely that Russia will use nuclear weapons in its war with Ukraine. He said that Iran is concerned about the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and he said that in the future, Iran may have to reconsider its defense policies and "think about" turning to nuclear weapons. Later in the interview, Larijani said that the recent "tensions" in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini, an Iranian woman who died after being arrested and beaten by Iran's "morality police" for wearing her hijab improperly, are an American and Zionist conspiracy against Iran. Larijani claimed that Amini had died after "suddenly" collapsing, and he defended the Iranian authorities for enforcing limitations on "public nudity", which he said exist in every country. Larijani also currently serves as the secretary of the Iranian judiciary's High Council for Human Rights, and he has previously served as Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister and in other senior positions. For more about Larijani, see MEMRI TV Clips Nos. 9699, 8986, 8482, 8247, 7611, 7604, 7299, 6622, 1456, and 1168.
Mohammad-Javad Larijani: "There is high probability that [Russia] will use [nuclear weapons]. If NATO believes that [Russia] is not bluffing, it will turn down the flames of war, but if NATO thinks that this is a bluff, this will indeed happen, and in such a case, there will be far-reaching international ramifications."
Reporter: " Will this increased tension influence our relations with the West, if Russia indeed uses nuclear weapons?"
Mohammad-Javad Larijani: "We are concerned about the proliferation of atomic weapons. In such a scenario, all countries will begin to contemplate other mechanisms for deterrence and defense against nuclear weapons. We will also need to rethink our defense policies.
"I am not saying that we should turn to nuclear weapons, but we will have to think about it.
[...]
"With regard to the recent tensions, it is all part of the enmity of America and the Western-Zionist front towards the Islamic Republic.
[...]
"I do not like to resort to conspiracy theories in order to explain phenomena, but sometimes the events themselves are very clear. One of our citizens [Mahsa Amini] was detained by the police, and she was in a classroom when she suddenly collapsed. The police were enforcing the limitation on public nudity. You may call it 'hijab,' modesty, or whatever, but in all countries – without exception – there are limits on public nudity.
[...]
"There is a scheme by America. It is a scheme by the Western-Zionist network."
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