Memo to Iran: Obama Won’t Let It Go

Tehran has done a far better job of painting itself as the enemy of the U.S. than anyone else could have done

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Memo to Iran: Obama Won’t Let It Go
by Meir Javedanfar
10-Nov-2011
 

Evidence that Iran has been involved in “efforts to master the technology needed for atomic weapons” can’t simply be ignored or dismissed by the international community. Ten different intelligence agencies contributed to the Atomic Energy Agency's carefully vetted findings, which were leaked yesterday.

Although the chances of war remain small, the diplomatic and economic consequences of this latest report could be extremely serious for the Islamic Republic. With its economy in the doldrums, further sanctions and greater international isolation will make the job of running an increasingly corrupt regime even more difficult for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. And if Khamenei thinks that Obama is going to simply walk away from all this, he will almost certainly prove mistaken.

Of course the problems for Iran extend past the IAEA – the Americans are still fuming over what they allege was an Iranian plan to assassinate the Saudi Arabian ambassador in Washington. Although the allegations have yet to be proven – and there have inevitably been claims that the whole thing was concocted by the U.S. government – the fact that the Obama administration is happy to lay its evidence out in front of the New York federal court suggests the U.S. side is confident of its claims. The Obama administration appears to have no qualms about its case being dissected in a civilian court, where it will come under close scrutiny.

This confidence is the main reason why President Barack Obama has recently felt able to ratchet up the pressure on Iran, including the announcement of plans for joint military maneuvers with the Israeli military. The Saudi assassination allegations and Obama's tough public response are in turn the most probable reason why the Israeli government has felt emboldened enough to test new missiles that can reach Iran. Israel has been buoyed by Obama, and can use the president’s anger to further increase pressure on Iran’s government.

Iran’s government, for its part, still subscribes to the view that “Zionists” control U.S. foreign policy, arguing that if not for Israel and its supporters, the United States would be taking a less hostile approach towards Iran.

Yet not only is this kind of thinking inaccurate and distorted, but it ultimately discounts the importance of its own hostile actions against the United States. The Iran hostage crisis at the U.S. Embassy in 1979 was only the earliest provocation by Tehran, a move that was followed by the bombing of the U.S. Marines’ barracks in Beirut in 1983, an attack that killed 242 U.S. soldiers. The fact is that then and since, Tehran has done a far better job of painting itself as the enemy of the United States than anyone else could have done.

AUTHOR
Meir Javedanfar is an Iranian - Israeli Middle East analyst and the co-author of 'The Nuclear Sphinx of Tehran: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and The State of Iran'. He runs the Middle East Economic and Political Analysis Company (meepas) from its offices in Tel Aviv, Israel.

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more from Meir Javedanfar
 
Veiled Prophet of Khorasan

One more question

by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on

 

How many Israeli do you people know personally. Yes Israel is worried and wants to keep its neighbors weak. The way to change that is to be their friend. The one thing the Israeli want is a real friend in the region.

That will be us because we Iranians are their only hope. If we truly offer them alliance they will return the favor with interest. I agree with Amirparviz that Europe wants Iran to remain Islamic. But Israel does not want that. 

If we do what I say AIPAC will become our best friend. It is powerful and will offset the influence of Europe. I know this is an unorthodox proposition but it is a good one. Go back to ancient alliances. Israel and Armenia are our real allies.


Veiled Prophet of Khorasan

Nuclear diversion

by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on

 

Yes nuclear is a diversion but it is stupidity of IRI that allows it. Really they do act as their own worst enemy. All IRI has to do is a few small things and the whole mess is over. But they won't. 

  • Give up any nuclear work in return for investment in renewal
  • Stop torturing; hanging and imprisoning Iranians.
  • Stop financing Hizbollah; Hamas and other terror groups.

Amirparviz I know you think somehow the whole world is against Iran. But I have a question from you: does anyone force IRI to torture people? Does Europe or America make Khamenei put do all the above. I had enough of conspiracies. At some point people got to take responsibility. Yes Khomeini was pushed on Iranians. We did not have to accept him. Now Khamenei does not have to be a *** vampire. But he is and it is because he wants to be not that America made him.

It is so much easier to blame Germany; America and whomever. Oh, us poor Iranians always the victims. Big bad West is out to get us an we are helpless. It is the Jews; no it is the Germans: stop blaming others and take responsibility!


Ahmed from Bahrain

What a load of

by Ahmed from Bahrain on

codwallop. Every dog knows that AIPAC and the Neocons control the US foreign policy in the Middle East both for making Israel superior power and for plundering the wealth. Otherwise how can you justify cosying up to Saudis who having nothing in common with the US in terms of vlaues and we all know 9 of the 911 culprits were Saudis. Not that I am a fan of the mullah's but Iran can't do anything right as long as they remain a power in the Middle East. A weak Iran is what the US/Israel wants. As a proud Persian of origin, I would not want anyone invading my ancestral land. Check this

  //www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LTdx1nPu3k&feature=related

Ahmed from Bahrain


Freemasons Exposed

Right on Amir

by Freemasons Exposed on

This Artical is exactly as u stated, it is a tatical diversion from the real issue of money masters controlling both sides and they like us to belive the constant and documented lies that come out of the corporate media and their lackies on the internet.


amirparvizforsecularmonarchy

This article's Nonsense and reinforces keeping Iranians clueless

by amirparvizforsecularmonarchy on

That the USA/UK/France/Germany Want Islam In Power for Iran, the Middle East, North Africa.

All they say in their media is to fool their own people and sadly works
on iranians too.  We only have one thing to counter that policy with. Iranian 
Culture and the Instituton of Shahhanshahi.  Happy Reading //www.angelfire.com/rnb/bashiri/Farr/iranhist...


amirparvizforsecularmonarchy

Bias

by amirparvizforsecularmonarchy on

Evidence that Iran has been involved in “efforts to master the
technology needed for atomic weapons” can’t simply be ignored or
dismissed by the international community.

Even IAEA say "may have been," not has been like you !!!!  No concrete evidence infact has been provided and the USA has a Long history of Fabricating evidence to suit its agenda. Mr Meir J, Lets go after Irans Agenda, based on the right reasons.  Not make Iran another Libya/Iraq/Afghanistan.


Bavafa

There is no shortage of digital Analysts now days…

by Bavafa on

Is this what they teach in the journalism schools or is it that you need to be of a binary type analyst in order to get a job, make a [good] money with those news and corporations?


Is there a shortage of criminal behavior of the IRI, specially towards its own citizen that Mr. Meir Javendanfar felt compelled to present his case in such black and white, hence binary way.   Pointing out to the 1979 hostage taking or the alleged involvement in assassination of the SA ambassador begs much question about of the crime that was perpetuated against Iran by the West.

If the point of this is to paint a dark picture of the IRI, than by comparison one may see a much darker picture of the West in their past dealings with Iran.  Has Mr. Javendanfar read about the coup of 1953, which one can argue the hostage taking was a preemptive action to avoid such criminal act again.  How about shooting down the Iranian airliner by which the caption of the ship was awarded a medal of honor or aiding and promoting Saddam with his criminal war against Iran.  Would the assassination of the scientist inside Iran count as act of terrorism?

You see, hardly any one disagrees with the [criminal] nature of IRI only when one goes to paint a black and white picture of the situation, then it draws our skepticism and doubt about how genuine the author is in his motive.

 

'Hambastegi' is the main key to victory 

Mehrdad