THE UGLY GAME OF THREATS BETWEEN IRAN AND ISRAEL PROVOKE SCORN FROM THE NEWLY ELECTED IRANIAN PRESIDENT

 

The newly elected Iranian president, Rowhani, has scorned the latest Israeli military threat as 'laughable'.

As Netanyahu tries to reassert his stance with Rowhani, the President asserts that Israel is a 'miserable' country whose politicians' utterances are to be laughed off. 

The Iranian's scorn may come at a time when both Iran and Iraq feel they are close to establishing a foothold in Syria and open up channels that would allow it to bring their presence much closer to Israel.

Bolstered by Russia's support of Assad and the flow of arms to both Hezbollah rebels and Iranian guard in Syria, Rowhani probably feels that the day when Israel's threats or even its dominance in the region will be diminished is soon approaching.  

The idea that Israel can unilaterally and without international military support take out nuclear installation dug deep in the Iranian mountains, is somewhat in doubt.  That is one reason why Rowhani can allows himself to be so bold.  The Iranian nuclear facilities were built with the memory of the Iraqi reactor pulverized by Israeli planes in mind.  They are, some say, dug so deep that not even cluster bombs or daisy cutters can get to them. 

Rowhani for his part is not the moderate people have painted him as.  In 1999 he called for the summary execution of demonstrators who were complaining about the theocratic regime in Iran.  He has painted himself as a moderate lately, but there is no mistaking who he really is.  When Netanyahu says that he is a 'wolf in sheep's clothing', he is not far from the truth. 

That said, Israel would be the target of Iran's nuclear weapons, given the proximity and the hatred demonstrated by the Shi'a government of Iran toward the nation of Israel.  Every month that goes by, Iran will be closer to having a nuclear weapon.  Given its past bellicosity with Iraq and the region, there is every reason to fear that those weapons are not just defensive measures. 

Rowhani, and the rest of the Iranian government insists that its power stations are not creating nuclear bombs, but are just that.  In truth, Iran has been in the grips of a situation where its crude has to be shipped out to be refined and then re-bought, creating for decades a fuel shortage that appears to be appalling, in consideration of its oil riches.  the sanctions established in the past few years for its non compliance of IAEA rules has brought even more misery.  The nuclear strategy therefore is a two prong solution: on one hand, it would bring relief to those who depend on oil for heating and other energy requirements, and on the other, offer a signficant deterrent to those who would want to invade Iran. 

Op-Ed

Partial Source : France 24/ 7.17.13