Iran Shows How to Rope-a-Dope

James Carafano / February 22, 2012

Talks between Iran and the U.N. “watchdog” International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) just failed big time.

You would never know that talking to Ali Asghar Soltanieh, the Iranian ambassador to the IAEA. “The second round of talks about cooperation between Iran and the agency and interaction with each other was held, and the talks will continue in the future,” he declared.

This came as a bit of surprise to Gill Tudor, spokesperson for the IAEA Director General, who told Reuters, “At this point in time there is no agreement on further discussions.”

Should we be surprised? Tehran is a graduate of Pyongyang 101—the school where they teach you how to string along with negotiations and threat while proceeding to merrily build your nuclear weapons and then, after you get nuclear weapons, really start to make a scene. In case Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad missed it, North Korea gave another class last week when it threatened to attack South Korea for conducting training exercises. In the not-too-distant future, Ahmadinejad will be having his own nuclear tantrums—in the middle of the Middle East.

Meanwhile, the White House spends it time sending U.S. officials to lecture the Israelis as being reasonable. Does President Obama not get it? He is pressuring the wrong country! Rather than being played for a dope, the White House ought to get serious about dealing with Iran’s mad mullahs.