If the 12-Day War Had Lasted 2 Months, There Would be No Trace of Israel Today

TEHRAN (Defapress) - Major General Mohsen Rezaee, former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, in an interview criticizing the behavior of the United States and Europe regarding the JCPOA and the recent IAEA resolutions, stated: The snapback is, in fact, the end of Europe's foreign policy in the international arena; because this action is so disgraceful and ridiculous that if its dimensions are fully expressed, everyone will realize that an important event has occurred in Europe's foreign policy.

Major General Rezaee, referring to Iran's agreement with Rafael Grossi, the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, emphasized: The Europeans had told us that if this agreement is reached, the snapback mechanism would not be activated. However, after the agreement was signed by Araghchi in Cairo, the Americans pressured the Europeans, and they practically broke their promise.

The former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps added: Even in the second stage, where changes were made to the resolution in consultation with China and Russia and the Europeans once again promised cooperation, the United States forced France, Germany, and the UK to withdraw from the agreement just 24 hours before the voting.

Europe has no independence in foreign policy

Major General Rezaee stressed: This experience showed that Europe has no independence in foreign policy and, under US pressure, has repeatedly retreated from its commitments.

The former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, emphasizing the illegality of activating the snapback mechanism, said: This mechanism could only be employed if Iran had failed to fulfill its obligations; whereas, we have been under IAEA inspections for the past twenty years and have had no deviations.

He clarified: The Islamic Republic of Iran was committed to all its obligations under the JCPOA, but the other party did not fulfill its commitments. For this reason, invoking the snapback lacks legal legitimacy, and as China and Russia have also stated, this action is illegal and illegitimate.

Major General Rezaee, referring to the failures of the US and the Zionist regime, added: If they had not been defeated in the 12-day war against Iran, they would not have resorted to the snapback. This itself shows that this action is a document of the strategic defeat of the enemy in recent months in facing the Islamic Republic of Iran.

He also emphasized: Europe has lost even its fragile independence and today moves completely in line with the policies of the United States and the Zionist regime.

The former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps added: This situation clearly reveals the failure of Europe's foreign policy on the international stage.

Major General Rezaee, explaining the power and executive limitations of the resolution's sanctions, said that a major part of the sanctions can either be neutralized or are not practically enforceable.

At the peak of pressures, Iran's oil sales increased from $20 billion to over $50–60 billion

Major General Rezaee, referring to Iran's experience during the sanctions period, said: We showed that even at the peak of pressures, Iran's oil sales increased from about $20 billion to over $50–60 billion; therefore, many sanctions can be neutralized.

The former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps added: Some clauses of the resolution, including the request for ship inspections, are not practically enforceable because major countries like China and Russia do not accept it and are practically unwilling to cooperate in implementing such sanctions.

Major General Rezaee emphasized: Based on assessments by relevant authorities, less than three percent of the resolution's provisions are enforceable. For that three percent, necessary measures have been planned for a long time in the Headquarters for Countering Sanctions, headed by the First Vice President, Mr. Aref, and in the Economic Coordination Council of the Heads of Branches of Power.

Regarding the duration of the sanctions' impact, he said: The effect of these sanctions is mainly psychological and varies between three to nine months; we predict that the real effect will mostly be in the range of three to four months and can last up to nine months at most, but its nature is psychological.

The former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps emphasized: Dealing with sanctions requires precise planning, reliance on domestic capacities, and cooperation among relevant institutions to reduce the practical effects of the sanctions.

Referring to Iran's experience in negotiations with the US and Europe, he said: The diplomacy of the Islamic Republic must change towards countries whose nature has been revealed, and the method of negotiation must also be transformed.

Major General Rezaee, recalling the sending of a written letter by Donald Trump, the former US president, to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, stated: Trump offered negotiations while he was the evilest US president, who martyred Sardar Soleimani and his comrades. Despite this, the Islamic Republic took action to negotiate, but the result was the start of war and more pressure.

The former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, regarding the experience of the agreement with Rafael Grossi, the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, also said: The Europeans promised that if an agreement was reached with Grossi, the snapback mechanism would not be activated, but in practice, they did the opposite. This experience showed that Europe has no independence and takes orders from elsewhere.

Major General Rezaee emphasized: Traditional diplomacy with such countries should not continue. Negotiations must serve the field, and the priority is the field. The era of negotiation for the sake of negotiation is over.

He added: I am not opposed to the principle of negotiation, but only negotiations that strengthen the field are acceptable. The method of negotiation must change so that it aligns with advancing the country's goals and enhancing its influence.

Major General Rezaee, emphasizing the necessity of redefining Iran's red lines in foreign policy, said: The Islamic Republic has shown its goodwill to the US and Europe, and there is no longer any reason to enter into fruitless negotiations.

He clarified: We showed that we truly sought to manage the war and prevent its expansion. We did not even use more than 30 percent of our capacity. Now, we must define new red lines. Negotiations are not acceptable in any form, at any price, or without conditions.

Major General Rezaee, stating that any negotiation must be accompanied by clear preconditions, added: If we enter negotiations, military tools should not be used against Iran under any circumstances. Otherwise, we will retaliate in kind, not only against Israel but also against US targets in the region.

He emphasized: Negotiations aimed at allowing Israel or strengthening it are not acceptable. If that happens, as soon as Israel starts a war, we will also enter a war with the US.

The former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps finally noted: I believe negotiations should not be cut off, but new frameworks are necessary. Defining these frameworks is the responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant officials, and I merely emphasize the necessity of changing the approach.