Sometimes ideas that are floated end up sinking, and other times they don’t really leave the docks. That’s what happened to Iranian goals of sailing warships into the Atlantic Ocean, with the Fars News Agency confirming the ships were called back to Iran before reaching the ocean that borders the US and Europe.
But if you think that’s a sign of Iran changing its tune, a military deputy chief of staff made it clear that’s not the case – especially when it comes to the nuclear talks with world powers. That’s key, because the Iranian armed forces are the biggest concern in those talks – they’re the most likely ones who would build or use nuclear weapons, after all.
Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces for Cultural Affairs and Defense Publicity Brigadier General Massoud Jazayeri, in comments quoted by another Fars report, said, “I tell the US that the Islamic Republic of Iran’s buy viagra yahoo Armed Forces won’t accept any irrational agreement.”
The comment raises questions about whether or not the Iranian negotiators even have the necessary authority to reach a nuclear deal. Jazayeri further noted that “we respect understanding as long as it falls within the framework of our country’s national interests.” That sounds like military veto power.
Beyond the concerns of a nuclear weapons program, the US has also hoped to address Iran’s missile program – which could eventually carry nuclear weapons. So far, Iran hasn’t budged on that point. Based on the military’s position, that looks even more doubtful.
So while it may appear Iran was trying to tone down their confrontation with the US by recalling their warships before they reached the Atlantic, the risk for a bigger blow-up is still there. Iran’s ships aren’t sailing like they planned, but the only thing sinking are hopes for peace.
(By Joshua Spurlock, www.themideastupdate.com, April 13, 2014)