Iran’s Deadline Has Arrived: Iran today, Thursday, is expected to
announce its position regarding the demands of the international
community to halt uranium enrichment efforts.

The United Nations deadline expires on Thursday, but Tehran is not
signaling a change in policy, carrying on its nuclear program this week
despite the deadline. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stated
earlier in the week that the “lofty program” will continue, using every
opportunity to ignore the threats and warnings of the US, UN, and
international community.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) officials announced that
there are no signs that Iran intends to comply with demands, with
uranium enrichment continuing on schedule.

American Remains Firm in Demands for Sanctions
The American administration remains firm in its decision to impose
sanctions on Iran, while the European Union is indicating it prefers to
maintain diplomatic contacts with Iran in the hope of achieving the
goal. America is calling for sanctions as the UN Security
Council-imposed deadline runs out on Thursday. Russia and China are not
likely to fall in line with US calls for political and economic
sanctions, supporting less harsh measures.

Lebanon War an Iranian Ploy?
There are analysts who believe the entire war in Lebanon launched by
Hizbullah was solely to permit Tehran to continue its nuclear program,
using the smokescreen of the war in southern Lebanon to divert the
world’s attention to another arena. While Iranian-supported Hizbullah
forces were fighting in Lebanon, Iran was free to move ahead with
efforts to develop a nuclear weapon without the interference of the
international community.

Disagreement Regarding a Military Option
Experts report that a repeat of Israel’s attack against the Iraqi
nuclear facility in 1981 is not possible today, stating Iran’s nuclear
program is spread out among many facilities throughout the country,
including some well protected underground. Bombing Iranian facilities
some experts believe would at best set the program back a number of
years, pointing out it would not have the same devastating impact the
1981 attack had in Iraq.

In addition, a military strike against Iran may complicate America’s
interests, with the USA heavily dependent on Iran’s support for its
position in Iraq. Iran has significant influence on Iraq’s Shia
leaders. Despite Iraq’s disdain for the Iranians, they do rely on
Tehran for funding and weapons. It was Iran which persuaded the Iraqi
Shia to take part in the US-led reconstruction.

Iran is reported to have thousands of soldiers and intelligence
community officers in Iraq as well and Tehran has warned America that
if pushed by a military assault against nuclear reactors, these forces
may take an active role against American troops operating in Iraq.

Despite Ahmadinejad’s defiant position, experts agree that he is not
seeking to isolate himself from the international community, adding the
people of Iran are genuinely interested in improving the country’s
ailing economy, a move that would be impossible in the face of
international sanctions.

Ahmadinejad continues to ignore warnings and threats, insisting his
nuclear program is “legitimate,” for medical and research purposes
only. Opposition elements have brought the truth to the surface, as
have IAEA inspectors. This includes the detection of experimentation
with polonium-210, a substance used only in deep-space exploration and
nuclear weapons. Iran does not have a deep-space program.

In Jerusalem, military intelligence officials continue to issue
warnings, citing Iran as Israel’s number one threat, stating if
permitted to continue, Tehran will not only pose a real danger to
Israel, but to global western interests. Military experts and
politicians from the left and right agree that permitting Iran to reach
nuclear independence is not a luxury Israel can afford.