IRAN DECLARES VICTORY, AND NO ONE IS LAUGHING – AT 8:31 A.M. ET:  Iran seems to feel it has us pretty much where it wants us...and plenty of observers agree.  From the Washington Free Beacon: 

Iran’s foreign minister and chief negotiator in nuclear talks with the West declared victory for his country, stating that no matter how the negotiations end, Tehran has come out “the winner,” according to remarks made on Tuesday and presented in the country’s state-run press.

Javad Zarif, the Islamic Republic’s foreign minister, stated in remarks before the country’s powerful Assembly of Experts, which recently installed a hardline new cleric as its leader, that the nuclear negotiations have established Tehran as a global power broker.

“We are the winner whether the [nuclear] negotiations yield results or not,” Zarif was quoted as saying before the assembly by the Tasnim News Agency. “The capital we have obtained over the years is dignity and self-esteem, a capital that could not be retaken.”

Zarif’s comments were accompanied by a host of bold military displays by Tehran in recent weeks, including the announcement of one new weapon that Iranian military leaders have described as a “very special” missile.

As the United States and Iran rush to hash out a final nuclear agreement ahead of a self-imposed July deadline, Zarif also lashed out at congressional Republicans who have expressed skepticism over the Obama administration’s diplomacy and have fought to exert control over the implementation of any deal.

COMMENT:  To a certain degree, Zarif is right.  Obama's appeasement of Iran, his giving in to many demands regarding its nuclear program, has enhanced Iran's prestige and presumed power.  And, although we are negotiating over nuclear weapons, we haven't demanded that Iran's ICBM's be included in the talks, although they are clearly being constructed to carry nuclear warheads.  At every stage we have enhanced Iran's position, treating the country as a great power, which it isn't.

Even if the talks break down, others in the region will see it as a victory for Iran, which would have to give up nothing.  True, the economic sanctions that we've imposed on Iran would remain – and they are hurting – but I would wager that the sanctions in time will essentially lose effect, as more and more nations seek business with Iran.

If the nuclear talks "succeed," Iran will probably come away with a very good deal.

The Iranians historically have been superb negotiators.  They are helped this time by facing an American president who wilfully operates from weakness.

March 12, 2015