Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Iran for sale

The Islamic regime’s 180 degree turn around and acceptance of an exchange of nuclear fuel outside of Iran and involvement of both Brazil and Turkey absorbed a lot of media coverage around the globe with variety of views and opinions surrounding this event. The illegitimate government of Iran has gone so far to actually claim this is a major victory and a political coup. However, in the midst of all the hoopla, some have forgotten the very same deal was offered by the west months ago which was vehemently struck down and rejected as the coup government insisted on two ‘irrevocable’ conditions. Those ‘irrevocable’ conditions were 1) the exchange will take place within Iran and not outside, and 2) the exchange will take place at the same time with no time gap in between. This belligerent attitude was met especially since France was a part of those talks and that period saw one the lowest points in Franco-Iranian relations.

However, the latest deal does exactly that, which is to have the exchange process carried out in Turkey and not Iran, and the enriched Uranium to be delivered at a later date after Iran’s dispatch of its low enriched reserves!! Some “irrevocable” conditions!
Did the Islamic dictatorship somehow manage to keep France out then? No. Since the type of enriched Uranium that can be used in the Tehran’s reactor is prepared and available in only two countries in the world; France and Argentina. Argentina has already announced it will not be a party in any deal involving Iran (reference to the bombings occurred during Rafsanjani’s presidency and IRGC’s involvement). So eventually the Iranian reserves have to be sent to France and it is the French high enriched Uranium that would fuel Tehran’s reactor.

So basically months have been wasted and much initiative lost to only go back to square one and finally accept the kind of deal that was initially offered by the west! But what could be the reason? This brings up the usual tactic of distraction and diversion of attention of the world from the regime’s greater fears and crimes.

And they have plenty of atrocities to hide and much to worry about. In recent weeks it has stepped up its execution of dissidents and political prisoners, using all sorts of labels to justify them. From executing a person who had merely sent money to his brother in Iraq, accused as a membership of the Mojahedin Khalgh group, to belonging to a pro-monarchist to supposed separatists when in reality all these people were guilty of was they had spoken against the totalitarian regime or demanded a free society. Not to mention with the anniversary of the fraud elections that resulted in the coup approaching, the regime knows it offers the opposition forces renewed purpose to once again take to the streets. Therefore, this deceitful government has much to hide and plenty to divert the world’s attention from as now the world media focuses on this deal and its supposed repercussions.

What hope does it have to be a lasting deal? Borne of a false pretense and founded on deceit and considering the coup government’s well known brinksmanship, its past record of wasting time, abandoning agreements or sudden change of mind it should not be a surprise to see this deal get filed along many other abandoned ones as soon as the coup anniversary is passed or it has achieved its momentary respite. In fact chances of this happening is far more than seeing a cooperative regime that surrenders its most useful instrument of camouflage and media weapon. Let us not forget how many times they have used the ‘nuclear program’ to divert the world attention and focus from its internal turmoil.

So why did the leaders of Turkey, Mr. Erdogan and Brazil, Mr. Lula Da Silva accept to be party to a deal that gambles on their political capital and reputation? The answer becomes more clear when we consider the over 300+ contingent of businessmen and financial personalities that accompanied Lula Da Silva’s visit which may see an eight to ten fold increase of business deals, investment and transactions between Iran and Brazil. Turkey also sees a potential increase of trade from its present $350 Million to close to a rumored $2 Billion which ensures the Turkish goods flooding the Iranian markets (much like the low quality imports from China) which in turn will spell doom for Iran’s already weakened (no thanks to the Chinese) indigenous industry and agricultural sectors! The sort of generous pay-off that this regime is well known to freely offer to anyone who is ready to help maintain its illegitimate hold on the country or help its ulterior motives.

Turkey has the added incentive as it tries to have a more meaningful presence and impact in the region, while continuing a palpable shift to a more religious and Islamic form of society, especially since it has little hope of being included in the European Union before several years from today, therefore shelving its European ambitions. It has been bolstering its contact and influence in Middle East from the overhaul of its relations with Israel and expansion of trade and political proximity to Iran. But what price one’s political reputation in Brasilia or Ankara gambling on the word of a regime that refuses to uphold its own laws and dictates, let alone deny itself a major tool of distraction?

At the same time the most crucial elements of Iran's nuclear adventurism has not been addressed in this deal, as its intention to enrich more Uranium to a higher grade is kept out of the agreement and it remains a great source of contention between the west and Iran. In other words, the regime still holds its nuclear card in hand, despite its politically naive attempts to portray a different picture of itself to the world as one who has become lenient and cooperative.