Russia indicates it is ready to take a tougher line on Iran
James Forsyth 1:41pm
It is encouraging that President Medvdev is prepared to concede to Obama that American “assessments have been more right than ours” about Iran’s nuclear programme. If Russian really is prepared to acknowledge (trust but verify and all that) that Iran is attempting to develop nuclear weapons it brings into play the prospect of far tougher UN sanctions on Iran. As an Obama administration source told Fox News, “We have laid the basis for much more severe consequences”.
But time is running out, as the administration source conceded. Iran will reach a nuclear weapons capability within the next year or two. So, the diplomacy needs to be speeded up so we can see if anything short of military action can persuade the Iranians to give up their nuclear ambitions.
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Dr Tchok
April 10th, 2009 2:25pm Report this commentWhat on earth is that photo supposed to be? Is that the Iranian missile?
Austin Barry
April 10th, 2009 3:09pm Report this commentIndeed. Meanwhile, on Thursday, a Japanese newspaper, Nikkei, reported that Western intelligence agencies were investigating whether a ship that recently traveled from North Korea to Iran carried several dozen tons of enriched uranium hidden in its cargo. I imagine that the IAF's strike plans are being tuned and refined.
David
April 10th, 2009 3:46pm Report this commentNo no no, I'm reliably informed by Mel that Obama is going around making excuses for Iran and enabling them to get nuclear weapons. This story can't be true.
Verity
April 10th, 2009 3:56pm Report this commentIs Coffee House the most sclerotic blog in Britain?
Augustus
April 10th, 2009 5:06pm Report this commentThey must be laughing into their turbans in Teheran this week as they begin to realise that the world wants to talk to them. And the West needs the Ayatollahs. Talks appear to be underway regarding the use of Iranian territory to supply troops via the Gulf of Oman into Afghanistan, as supplies via Pakistan have become almost impossible. But what does Iran want in exchange for these services? Concessions regarding their nuclear programme perhaps?
Austin Barry
April 10th, 2009 11:15pm Report this commentVerity, sit down, pour a large Talisker and relax. Coffee House is were the intellectual elite discourse on the issues of our times. Fasten your seatbelt and ride the Zeitgeist. Your posts set an invigorating benchmark for the rest of us.
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