Media coverage of the Iran nuclear negotiations has properly explored the continuing collapse of the West’s bargaining positions.
From the original plan to negotiate an agreement that would permanently foreclose the possibility of Iranian nuclear weapons development, P5+1 negotiators have come to the point of accepting a deal lasting approximately ten years.
And whereas at the outset the plan was that Iran would have to surrender most of its centrifuges, it will now be able to retain several thousand. Similarly, it appears its nuclear stockpiles will remain in the country, a significant capitulation to the Iranians.
Also, inspections apparently will not be totally random and unrestricted but rather subject to some “management” formula. And it now also appears the U.S. is dropping its insistence that Iran disclose in detail its past nuclear research.
But what seems never to draw much attention is the constant flow of pronouncements from Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, disassociating his government from even the few concessions Iran’s negotiators have made at the negotiating table.
The notion that Iran would abide by whatever agreement it makes with the West over its nuclear program was always a specious one. But at this point we have only ourselves to blame if we do not take the Supreme Leader at his word. His unmistakable message is that we accept the promises of Iranian negotiators at our own risk.