Yigal Carmon, the President of the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) said in a December 5, 2021 interview on Al-Jazeera Network (Qatar) that any Israeli military action against Iran would constitute self-defense, and that the West will not come to Israel's help if it is weak. Discussing Iran's intentions to build a nuclear weapon, Carmon quoted Iranian political analyst Emad Abshenas, who said that Iran has the capability of assembling a nuclear bomb within minutes or hours (see MEMRI TV Clip No. 9177). He also quoted Professor Fereydoon Abbasi-Davani, the former head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, who said that Iranian nuclear chief Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, who was assassinated in 2020, had been working on manufacturing a nuclear bomb (see MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 9663).
In addition, Carmon said that the only way to stop Iran from realizing its doctrine of annihilating Israel is to establish a new democratic system in Iran, and he criticized Al-Jazeera for ignoring the demonstrations currently taking place in Iran. Carmon pointed out that conversely, during the Arab Spring, Al-Jazeera had played a role in promoting regime changes in Arab countries. For another appearance by Carmon on Al-Jazeera, see MEMRI TV Clip No. 6134, in which he accuses Al-Jazeera of inciting terrorism.
Interviewer: "We have with us, from Jerusalem, Yigal Carmon, the president of the Middle East Media Research Institute. Mr. Carmon, what are the measures of pressure exerted by Israel with regard to the nuclear negotiations? The Mossad director traveled to Washington, and he was followed by the Minister of Defense."
Yigal Carmon: "There are not that many options. Iran has been threatening Israel for the past 40 years. Supreme Leader Khamenei recently gave Israel 20 years to survive, and he was followed by the IRGC commanders, who compete among themselves as to who will annihilate Israel sooner. The situation is very difficult, and the reality speaks for itself. Your guest from Tehran, Dr. Abshenas, recently said that Iran has the capability of assembling a nuclear bomb within minutes or hours. He said that Israel is small and that Iran can annihilate it."
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Interviewer: "Can Israel endure going on a military adventure?"
Carmon: "It would not be an adventure. Rather, it would be self-defense. Prof. Fereydoon Abbasi-Davani, former head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, said in an interview that General and Professor Fakhrizadeh had been working on manufacturing a nuclear bomb. The Iranian regime helps terrorist organizations that operate against Israel, like Hizbullah, and even the Houthis at the far end of the Arabian Peninsula...
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"The West will not help us if we are weak. Israel's choices are ones of self-defense. Nobody helps the weak.
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"By the way, engaging in violent measures as a legitimate means is not limited to Israel. A few days ago, an Iranian expert, called Khoshcheshm, said that Iran should manufacture missiles with a long range of 3,000-4,000 kilometers, in order to threaten Europe. Explaining this to the West may have some benefit, but this is not definite. As I've said, nobody helps the weak.
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"So far, [sabotage operations] have not delayed Iran's nuclear program. There's no way of stopping Iran from endorsing its own doctrine of annihilating Israel. There is no magical way of preventing this annihilation. The only way is to have a new and democratic system [established] in Iran. By the way, I say this to Al-Jazeera, which takes pride in its role in the Arab Spring. Al-Jazeera helped the Arab people who turned against their dictator rulers."
Interviewer: "Mr. Yigal, this is not our topic..."
Carmon: "How can Al-Jazeera ignore the demonstrations in Iran? People there are screaming out of hunger and thirst."
Interviewer: "In any case, our time is up. Thank you. From Jerusalem, that was Yigal Carmon, the president of the Middle East Media Research Institute. "
Carmon: "Thank you."