Civilly, Respectfully, Honestly

A nuclear deal ... is likely to intensify behind-the-scene political co-operation between the Persian Gulf states and Israel, especially when it comes to lobbying in Washington and in Brussels."
Meir Javedanfar, Iranian-born political analyst, Israel

"There are red lines. There are limits. These limits must be observed."
"...stabilization of the rights of the Iranian nation, including nuclear rights."
"We have told the authorities, and they are required to observe the limits and should not fear the blusters of the enemies and opponents."
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Heavy-water production plant in the central Iranian town of Arak, Saturday, Aug. 26, 2006. Photo by AP

 

Bluster and threat and destabilization is, needless to say, the select province of the Ayatollah who, while insisting on limits to 'concessions' Iran is prepared to surrender itself to, there are quite distinct limits, as in "red lines" and no thought should be entertained that they would give up the spinning centrifuges and Iran's new, heavy-water facility at Arak, nor the underground one being built that no one but a few Iranian defectors know of.

Israel, he noted, is "the rabid dog of the region", their people barely to be thought of as human. A descriptive that didn't manage to curl the hairs of the G-5+1, determined to proceed with plans to legitimize some aspects of Iranian nuclear technology geared to civil 'peaceful' pursuits. France, he noted was guilty of "kneeling" before Israel. It's clear that no one has translated into Farsi How to Make Friends and Influence People.

And the United States "considered itself superior to mankind", lending an sympathetic ear to the sub-humans in Israel whose actions were meant to besmirch Iran's wonderful reputation as a world leader in human rights and equality, and whose efforts to combat terrorism wherever it raises its ugly head; usually Sunni Muslim jihadis or Israeli agents or American CIA operatives, are unparalleled.

With all this goodwill and brotherhood kindling the atmosphere perhaps it should not have been surprising that the new round of nuclear talks that began on Wednesday lasted a whole two or three minutes before the meeting was adjourned, with both sides murmuring appreciatively of forward momentum. Whistling softly to themselves "we'll meet another day".

That forward momentum is decidedly unappreciated by Israel and the Gulf States, and most particularly Saudi Arabia -- all former allies of the United States, leading the advance and aspirations of the talks to succeed despite all roadblocks -- and all of whom regard Iran's eventual and seemingly inevitable final success in building and accumulating an arsenal of nuclear warheads with deserved dread.

The Grand Ayatollah, blowing hot in revealing the depth of his estrangement from reality and blowing cold when he reminds himself temporarily of the need to build on the smiley-face initiatives of his new president and nuclear negotiator by emphasizing that of course, his country is eager to establish "friendly relations with all nations -- even the United States."

As long, that is, as the world and the G5+1 understand that Iran will not consider giving up its ability to make nuclear fuel, though it could see its way through to curbing uranium enrichment at 20% with sanctions adequately lifted. A month, perhaps slightly more, is the estimation given by those who are knowledgeable, is all it will take for Iran to achieve its goal.