Inalienable Right

Larijani: "Nuclear Energy is our inalienable right"
(by Nikahang Kowsar)

Al-Ahram Weekly | Opinion | In Focus: War by proxy

In his recent post, Cernig points to an interesting article by Galal Nassar in Al-Ahram Weekly, in which Nassar describes the difficulties of a military strike against Iran, but depicts a possible way out for the US.

Al-Ahram Weekly | War by proxy: "... There is, unfortunately, another and far more likely scenario - war by proxy. A war between Sunnis and Shias in the region could all too easily present itself as the solution to the West's dilemma. It would sap the capacities of both sides to the benefit of many parties, none of them Arab or Muslim."

Did anybody say civil war in Iraq? or anything about Ahwaz?

The war of the stubborns

At one point, the US authorizes Z. Khalilzad to talk to Iranian officials on Iraq's security issues. At a later time, when Iran's supreme leader says OK, the US administration questions the OK:

Administration Questions Iran's Motives:
The Bush administration questioned on Wednesday the motives of Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in approving U.S.-proposed talks on Iraq, but did not shut the door entirely.

And then the reason behind the suspicion is stated as:

"It is a matter of curious timing," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said, suggesting Iran was trying to deflect international pressure from its nuclear programs now under criticial discussion at the United Nations.

I personally think it is the other way around. US has always been accusing Iran of supporting insurgencies in Iraq. Suddenly, it is said that Iraq's stability is not possible without Iran's involvement and the US decides to get involved in talks with Iran. How odd it is to talk to someone who is your enemy! Now, who is deflecting international attention?
Whatever the reason, I am glad that both parties are moving in the direction that they should. I am hopeful that it'd open up more doors rather shutting doors up.

Happy Persian New Year

Happy New Year to those whose new year starts at the first moment of spring, the rebirth of earth, the Norouz. I wish you all the best of health, happiness, and prosperity you've never wished for.

(This is a picture of our Haft-Seen)

BBC's Hard Talk

I found it interesting to watch some of BBC's Hard Talks related to Iran's nuclear issue. The matter looks just the way it looked some 3 years ago.


John Bolton - March 2006 - Video


Javad Zarif - December 2004 - Video


Mohamed ElBaradei - September 2004 - Video
Mohamed ElBaradei - August 2003 - Video

VOA News - Rice Testifies On Iran

I am glad that Secretary of State, Condi Rice, says that "our problem is with the Iranian regime, not the Iranian people".

VOA News - Rice Testifies On Iran (the streaming audio file)

She continues that it is important "that the Iranian government recognizes that it will be isolated if it continues down this path, [and] that we [will] not isolate the Iranian people."

What she says is pretty nice, but I don't know how she is going to implement it. The US government has so far been doing a good job in isolating Iranian people: by demonizing the name of their country, by denying them VISAs, by denying them safety in their air travels, and by imposing restrictions on their scientific cooperation with the rest of the world.

I usually call this sort of statements "tricky jokes" and I'll continue doing so until I see tangible changes is the US policy towards the Persians (the Iranians, some may say).

Contingency Plan

Iranian delegation have always said that they have a predetermined action in case something happens. Now that Iran's dossier has been reported to UNSC, Iran will be forced to abandon its nuclear program, because UNSC resolutions are legally binding.

Lets wait and see what contingency plan Iran has now. Hope the plan is not to leave NPT, as it will start the drum beating for a war.

Last-Ditch

BBC Persian reports that the Iranian and Russian negotiators have reached a deal to keep the matter within IAEA. This will definitely add to the perplexity of the situation in the next IAEA meeting on Monday.

Update1: See Bloomberg's video interview with Paul Ingram.
Update2: The perplexity has already started: Iran and EU inched toward possible compromise.