Tehran Has Little Reason to Fear Sanctions

(Der Spiegel-Germany) Ulrike Putz - President Ahmadinejad allowed every ultimatum to expire, and each time he came away without so much as a scratch. The Iranians' tactics are always the same. First, they give the impression they are going to make concessions. But then they just continue as before. Without a military option, which the West has repeatedly ruled out, Iran feels safe. And the Islamic Republic is likewise not at all concerned about economic sanctions - a sentiment, say Iran observers, that is not only justified, but backed by decades of experience. Officials in Washington are all too familiar with the fact that the Iranians have become masterful at navigating their way around trade restrictions. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently conceded that the U.S. economic embargo against Iran was "leaky."


2010-02-12 07:42:14

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