Sunday, January 01, 2006

Iran to Russia - Thanks but no thanks

The Mullahs formally dismissed a proposal by the Russians today that Iran conduct uranium enrichment in Russia as a way out of an impasse in talks over its nuclear program. I'm only surprised they did it this quickly, without stalling and milking it for a couple of weeks.

At this point, Ahmadinijad and the Council of Guardians are so invested in the nuclear program as a matter of national `honor' that any compromises that take any part of the nuclear cycle out of the mullah's hands wouldbe perceived as a major defeat.

Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani carried the not unexpected news to the media and said said it was not logical for any country to entrust its energy security to another state. He also warned of a "crushing" response if Iran's nuclear and military facilities were attacked by the US or Israel.

Earlier today, the Iranians said they had already developed equipment to separate uranium.

President Ahmadinejad was back in the news today as well, expanding on his comment that not only was the Holocaust probably a myth, but that it was a conspiracy by the Europeans to get rid of their Jews and expropriate Muslim land. No joke.

No comments: