Weekly Commentary: Why Is Iran Pissing Off The Diving Board?

Dr. Aaron Lerner Date: 20 September 2012

Today there was a startling development: In an interview published in today’s
edition of the London newspaper Al-Hayat, Fereydoun Abbasi, the head of
Iran's nuclear energy agency, said for attribution that Iran often delivers
false information to international officials regarding its nuclear program,
in order to protect its facilities.

"We have sometimes delivered false information in order to protect our
nuclear facilities and our accomplishments. There is no other way to deceive
additional intelligence entities. We often reveal a weakness that we do not
suffer from, and sometimes we display a strength we lack. It is later
apparent in negotiations with the IAEA."

Again, these are remarks that a senior Iranian official made for
attribution.

The fact that Iran saw fit to publicly state that they provide false
information is in many respects more troubling than the “revelation” itself.

After all, the expectation was that Iran has been deceiving international
officials for years.

But it’s one thing to deceive and quite another to openly admit to it –
while giving every indication that the practice will continue.

Iran is, as the Hebrew saying goes, “pissing off the diving board.”

And by doing this Iran is sending a message loud and clear that they no
longer care what the West in general – and President Obama in particular –
thinks about Iran’s nuclear activities.

This would appear to be a stunning shot across the bow.

But is Iran really seeking confrontation?

Why should Iran seek conflict with Mr. Obama given the president’s “no
deadline no redline” stand – a position that President Obama justifies on
the grounds that he does not want to commit the United States to actually
use force against Teheran under any scenario?

Iran isn’t seeking confrontation with the U.S.

Iran is seeking to ridicule America.

By openly admitting to engaging in deception it expects to show the world
that “Big Satan” is so weak that Iran no longer has to show it even a
modicum of respect.

Media coverage of this development has been fairly minor today.

But if in the days to come there is no significant and substantive American
response we could very well witness not only an acceleration of Iranian
activity but also expression of a decline in the status of the United States
in other critical arenas.

Dr. Aaron Lerner, Director IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis)
(Mail POB 982 Kfar Sava)
Tel 972-9-7604719/Fax 972-3-7255730
INTERNET ADDRESS: imra@netvision.net.il
Website: http://www.imra.org.il