Iranian President-elect Ebrahim Raisi held his first post-election press conference on Sunday and echoed the talking points of his master, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, very obediently: No to meeting US President Joe Biden, no to any concession on the ballistic missiles program, and no to halting the funding and support affording to various militias across the Middle East.
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As expected, his press conference gave little hope that Iran's foreign policy vis-à-vis the West would change. He was also critical of outgoing President Hassan Rouhani, who – according to Raisi – spent too much time trying to negotiate with the US and not enough time fostering Iran's ties with its neighbors in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East.
The "Butcher of Tehran" made no apology for his part in the mass execution of thousands of political prisoners in 1988, for which he was placed under US sanctions, and maintained he was simply "doing his job" as chief justice.
Still, Raisi and Khamenei's refusal to move an inch on their policies toward the West should not be confused with a refusal to adhere to the nuclear deal. Raisi, in fact, has ordered outgoing Foreign Minister Javad Zarif to step up the negotiations.
Iran hopes to profit doubly from a new nuclear agreement. Once when oil exports resume and billions of dollars again flow into its depleted coffers, and again when Tehran sees the sanctions lifted.
The latter is of great concern to Israel. The removal of sanctions spells the resumption of financial and military assistance to Hezbollah in Lebanon and the pro-Iranian militias in Iraq, Syria and elsewhere. This also means accelerated efforts to develop and produce ballistic missiles, and – what is the greatest concern of all – accelerated progress in developing a nuclear bomb.
In this context, it is worth noting the document authored by his former senior members of the defense establishment, including former head of the Armed Forces, Major General Aharon Zeevi Farkash. , Which will allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons in very short periods of time.
In this context, it is worth noting a document authored by three former senior defense officials, who warn that if the US enters into a nuclear deal that is flimsier than the one inked in 2015, Iran would be in the position to acquire nuclear weapons in very short periods of time.
Israel only has a short window of opportunity to try and convince the Americans to review and revise the most problematic articles in the deal. Jerusalem must also strive to guarantee Washington's consent to operate covertly to stall the Iranian nuclear program.
The thought that Israel, left with no other choice, will be able to mount a military strike against Iran on its own, without informing the US or getting its consent for the move ahead of time is unrealistic.
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