Oil was the dog that didn’t bark after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s press conference on Iran at 1 pm EST. After a brief spike to US$69.38, West Texas Intermediate crude was trading at US$68.50, unchanged on the day.
Whatever one thinks about Israel, Iran, or the Trump Administration, we can draw a number of inferences from the Israeli leader’s display of dozens of file folders and compact disks. The first is that the Israelis would not have offered the revelation unless they knew in advance that the United States would attest to the authenticity of the stolen Iranian documents (President Trump immediately indicated his approval of Netanyahu’s presentation). Least of all would they have done so hours after the departure from Israel of the new American Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo. The second is that the apparent use of bunker-buster bombs against an Iranian base in Syria this morning just after Pompeo’s departure from Israel is a warning to Iran as to what will happen if it attempts to develop nuclear weapons.
Third, if the Israeli dossier stands scrutiny and receives America’s endorsement, it will wrongfoot the European chancelleries which have tried to persuade President Trump to preserve the Iran nuclear deal. It is unlikely that any of the European governments will have an independent intelligence capacity to challenge the accuracy of the Israeli claim, and none of them will have the political capacity to challenge it if America claims to have substantiated it. This is quite a different matter than a hard-to-verify poison gas attack in Syria. It is likely to be a diplomatic game-changer.
Fourth, it will give Russia an opportunity to play a more prominent role in regional diplomacy. As Maxim Suchkov wrote today in AL-Monitor, Russia is attempting to act as a buffer between Iran and Israel, which are now close to confrontation over Iran’s military buildup in Syria. Israel evidently wants Russia to be a moderating influence on Iran; its defense minister, Avigdor Liberman, yesterday described Russia as a “pragmatic actor” in Syria. Russia’s interests are best served by persuading Iran to concede critical points (e.g. on ballistic missile development) to Washington.
Finally, the physical collapse of North Korea’s nuclear testing site and North Korea’s consequent willingness to negotiate a halt to its nuclear program have broad implications for Iran. As the respected German defense expert Hans Rühle wrote in Die Welt last October, Iran and North Korea collaborated on nuclear weapons development in a “sinister alliance.” Both Iran and North Korea have used Russian components and hired former Russian nuclear scientists to advance their weapons programs. A suspension of Pyongyang’s nuclear program would starve the Iranians of some resources.
All of the above box Iran in. If the Israeli dossier is authentic, it is likely that the Mossad had some help from within the Iranian security establishment, perhaps from individuals who are not convinced of the wisdom of the Revolutionary Guards’ expansionism.
The likeliest outcome remains a negotiated settlement. Iran’s financial system is in chaos after the collapse of the national currency on the black market and the suspension of foreign currency sales to the public, which have paralyzed important industries, including automobile production. Iran may not be able to sustain a fresh round of sanctions without a high degree of internal unrest. That explains why the oil price has not moved that much (although the price of oil options has in recent weeks).
While only a hunch, PM Netanyahu had the boyancy of a "Baptist holding five aces" (Mark Twain).
Whoever is responsible for putting this joint program together is a genius; and all the while we have been told that Trump cannot chew gum and walk a straight line. And the secrecy — Wow!
As usual, the Mossad blogger spews jibbrish assuming everyone is stupid. These bombshell from a evil mastermind like Natanyahu is the same lies he has used over and over. He is trying very hard to bring Iran into a conflict. Rest assured that Iran will not do anything until May 12th deadline is reached. The game plan that is to isolate the US and deal with Europe, Russia & China. Israel is already in a cespool with Gaza and the atrocities that is creating and Natanyahu is deep into scandals at home. These all reruns from 2003 Iraqi invasiona and people will not buy another war for the benefit of Israel. They game in Syria will be over soon when US bases come under attack and with S-300 showing up in Syria, the Air raids by Israel will be over. Stay tuned as this nightmare will soon be over.
The world should ignore this pathological liar.
Two 80mm mortar and Grad rocket dumps along with a fire brigade station were targeted by the US/ UK/ Israel alliance. No Iranians military advisors were present at those sites. As for the military situation in Syria, Iran and its allies today control over 90% of Syrian territory. Afrin, Manbij, Raqqa and Idlib left to go. No wonder these absolutely desperate provocations by the US and Israel……..lol
We’ve been hearing about Syria’s victory over the rebel forces for months. But fierce battles and attacks on civilians continue in Damascus.
Yonatan Goldman we’ve been hearing about Syria’s default for years. But in the fierce battles the crude reality won over wishfull narrative.
The main problem with these kind of "news" is their inflation. If we sum all the past news about superior actions and capacity of Isrealis, they would have already won twenty times agains all the rest of the world (not just Iran & proxies & others).
«« London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights »»
Huh? The mighty intelligence of one-man observatory.
Mr. Goldman….The real Bombshell that has been prisoned and been under gag order and house arrest is none other than Mordechai Vanunu….As Jewish citizen and human, I would dare you to petition for his freedom since you have friends in high places….I bet you he can enlightened the world with real evidence of who is the real terrorist Mastermind!! That man has the real bombshell to share.
The "world" probably will. However, the United States will not.
Yonatan Goldman your boys from Tell Aviv have been defeated by Iran……..Nothingyahu is digesting this reality. These desperate Israeli/ US attacks to appear to stay relevant in Syria prove it! lol
In April alone, Yarmouk, Douma and Ghouta changed hands…….you get it?
Frank you cracked me up…………..lol
This crying and garbage Stories, is for the gods of your villages
Oil prices will go up if there is a war. Impressive presentation by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu yesterday. Prime Minister Netanyahu uses his war drums again. Sure, Iran have the missiles needed to carry a nuclear war-head, this is undisputed public knowledge.
No doubt Iran once had a nuclear program and had a lot of documents for this program achieved. The question is do Iran have a nuclear war-head? This question is still unanswered. Great presentation, but nothing new, same shit new wrapping. Will the US/NATO buy into it? Sure they will; hook, sink, and line!
Israel is playing with fire. Israel want to get the US to get involved in another endless, unwinnable war. The Saudis is willing to fight the Iranians to the last AMERICAN. Saudis will enjoy a huge increase in oil revenues due to the war and the Zionist think they will weaken the resistance for their grand scale plans for the region.
What will Russia, China, and Iran do if there are attacks on Iran forces in Syria continues or a direct war on Iran threatened by Israel yesterday? I doubt they will continue to just passively take it. One peaceful action China can take is to reduce their holdings of US bonds. Why fund the US when they attack Chinas friends? It seems President Trump has been able to charm President Xi, with all this flattering adjectives. China can use its power to constructively and peacefully intervene. No more wars are needed, China just must wake up.
The problem with both the US and Israel there is a serious lack of trust in what they say. For the western powers especially US , UK and French they have really damaged their credibility in the eyes of the world for sprawling out half truth allegations, like in the case of Libya, Syria , Yemen. The worst of the lot is Israel in their make believe. Even NYT posted serious doubts on what Israel is saying about Iran nuclear activities.
Frank Omo Apejoye My village is Nigeria,,
ANOTHER PIECE OF VISUAL PROPAGANDA LIKE NETANYAHU SHOWED AT THE U.N A FEW YRS BACK. RITA KATZ NETANYAHU’S VIDEOGRAPHER USED A BLACK CURTAIN TO DRAMATISE THE CLOAK AND DAGGER EFFECT,TO MAKE IT MORE DRAMATIC FOR THE AMERICAN INSOUCIANT FOOLS TO BUY INTO!!!
It is no problem coming up with pictures. Here’s one result of a quick Google search.
https://www.wisconsinproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/nw-1.jpg
Nebuchadnezzar destroyed first Temple & enslaved Israelites. Iranian made the mistake of freeing them after defeating the Babylonians. Otherwise World would have been much better place. I wish there were 12 lost tribes of Israelites. See the trouble being created by just 2 tribes of them.