Okay, so it’s not December 11th yet, but the news that Ahmadinejad is puffing up his presidential feathers is bound to make Bibi Netanyahu feel he’s got leverage that he didn’t when Iran’s president first said he’d accept to enrich his nuclear material elsewhere. From the Washington Post:
Iran’s government will build 10 new sites to enrich uranium, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Sunday, a dramatic expansion of the country’s nuclear program and one that is bound to fuel fears that it is attempting to produce a nuclear weapon.
Ahmadinejad told the official Islamic Republic News Agency that construction of at least five nuclear facilities is to begin within two months.
The surprise announcement came two days after a censure of Iran by the International Atomic Energy Agency over the Islamic republic’s refusal to stop enriching uranium, a key demand of Western powers. The 35-member board of the agency also criticized Iran’s construction of a second enrichment plant in Qom, southwest of Tehran.
Robert Gibbs, White House Press Secretary had a terse response:
“If true, this would be yet another serious violation of Iran’s clear obligations under multiple UN security council resolutions, and another example of Iran choosing to isolate itself. The international community has made clear that Iran has rights, but with those rights come responsibilities. As the overwhelming IAEA board of governors vote made clear, time is running out for Iran to address the international community’s growing concerns about its nuclear program.”
Considering Ahmadinejad’s move comes shortly after new admonishments, I’d say this nuclear tantrum is begging for more. But it still puts Obama in a tough spot, as Iran doesn’t seem to pay much attention to any threats. When you think about it, what exactly is it that Pres. Obama can actually do? Threats aren’t exactly working, which is why Netanyahu might being feeling a little more control shifting his way.
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