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Iranian international affairs expert Mostafa Khoshcheshm said in a November 29, 2021 interview on Ofogh TV (Iran) in addition to its nuclear means, Iran has other "measures of leverage" that it can use to remove sanctions, like its military and missile capabilities. He also said that Iran needs missiles that can reach Western Europe, because NATO would come to Israel's aid if a war broke out "by accident" between Iran and Israel.
In addition, Khoshcheshm said that the Democrats in the United States are worried that Biden's withdrawal from Afghanistan will cause them to lose their majority in the upcoming congressional race, so they are trying to improve their standing by reaching an agreement with Iran, even if it only enables them to say that they stopped Iran's enrichment of uranium to 60%. He also said that Iran reduced its commitments to the JCPOA in order to get concessions from the other side, and that the Europeans know this. For more about Mostafa Khoshcheshm, see MEMRI TV clips nos. 9145, 9118, and 9039.
Mostafa Khoshcheshm: "Our leverage is not limited to the nuclear field. We also have leverage in other areas that can apply, based on the roadmap, and at the appropriate opportunity. The Western side is aware of this, since the Americans are seeking a certain goal, and are fearful that because of Biden’s [Afghanistan] withdrawal, Democrats will lose their majority in the next congressional elections. So they are looking for some trump cards, like reaching a deal with Iran, whether temporary or not, just so they can say that they stopped the 60% enrichment.
[…]
"We have nuclear leverage, and we can also use the military, regional, and missile measures of leverage. The American side understands this. We have tried this before. What does it mean?
"You tell the Americans: Lift the sanctions, because if you don’t, the JCPOA will collapse and the tensions will rise. Neither Israel not us are interested in a war, but if the tension rises, a war might break out by accident. Will NATO not come to [Israel’s] defense?
"Therefore, we need to get Western Europe within the range of our missiles. This is why we would want to increase the 2,500 km range, which we set voluntarily, to 3,000km, and then to 4,000 km. the missiles will remain in Iran’s hands, of course. It is not me saying this. I talked to [IRGC Aerospace Force Commander] General Hajizadeh, and he said this to me.
[…]
"We can use these leverage measures. The Westerners may turn to demagoguery, but they know that we are doing this to get concessions. When we were reducing our commitments to the JCPOA, the Europeans officials were asked: 'Does Iran want to build a bomb? Why is Iran doing this? Why is it reducing its JCPOA commitments?' All of them, without exception, answered that Iran is doing this to get concessions. So the other side understands this."
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