Leaving missiles and proxies out of Iran deal would be ‘strategic disaster’ – European diplomat

A European diplomat warns that the failure to restrict Tehran’s missile program and regional proxy network in the emerging US-Iran deal would amount to a “strategic disaster” for both Israel and Europe.

If negotiators “have stricken out the missiles [and] they have stricken out the proxies… we have a complete strategic disaster,” the diplomat tells The Times of Israel.

“The current US-led track appears to exclude missiles and proxies,” the diplomat says of the emerging Iran deal, details of which have not been publicized.

Despite being repeatedly presented by top American and Israeli officials as key components of Iran’s military leverage, the Islamic Republic’s missile and proxy programs have hardly been mentioned publicly by US, Iranian, or Israeli officials discussing the latest framework of the deal, or in any reported details of the negotiations.

The diplomat, who has held conversations with regional sources familiar with the talks, warns that the apparent omission is significant, as a large enough missile arsenal could deter future attacks by threatening retaliation — and could eventually provide the delivery system for a nuclear weapon — while Tehran’s proxy network allows it to threaten Israel, Western forces, and targets abroad without direct confrontation.

“This is dangerous because Iran may retain enough nuclear capability while Hezbollah and other proxies remain active,” the diplomat says.