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Iran Continues to Punk the EU

jimmiebjr | August 11, 2004 | Reply

Not only has Iran steadfastly refused to stop its nuclear program, it has now delivered a series of demands to the nations known as the “EU-3″: Britain, France, and Germany.

Iranian officials refused point-blank to comply, saying they had every right under international law to pursue “peaceful” nuclear technology.
They then stunned the Europeans by presenting a letter setting out their own demands.
Iran said the EU-3 should support Iran’s quest for “advanced (nuclear) technology, including those with dual use” – a reference to equipment that has both civilian and military applications.
The Europeans should “remove impediments” preventing Iran from having such technology, and stick to these commitments even if faced with “legal (or) political . . . limitations”, an allusion to American pressure or even future international sanctions against Iran.
More astonishingly, Iran said the EU-3 should agree to meet Iran’s requirements for conventional weapons and even “provide security assurances” against a nuclear attack on Iran.

Iran has again raised the stakes on its nuclear program against three very soft players. The Mullahs expect that the EU-3 will fold their hands and that Iran will be able to develop anything they want. They’re probably right. I can’t imagine, given the track record of these nations in stopping proliferation, that they’re going to do anything at all to even slow down Iran.

Of course, Iran is already telegraphing who it believes are the countries that can stop their program: the United States and Israel and are asking for help against them. That’s probably the best move they can make right now. Every outward sign says that France and Germany will act directly against US interests and will support the Mullahs despotic regime, as they’ve supported tyranny elsewhere.

Our move in this game seems much less clear.