Iran’s nuclear breakthrough

Do read this alarming story from the New York Times about Iran’s nuclear programme and their new found ability to “enrich uranium on a far larger scale than before.” This quote from an anonymous diplomat pithily sums up the situation we find ourselves in:

“The key decision you have to make right now,” the diplomat said, “is that if you don’t want the breakout scenario, you would have to freeze the Iranian program at a laboratory scale. Because if you continue this stalemate, that will bring you, eventually, to a breakout capability.”

The Iranian crisis is coming down the tracks fast. Sadly, hoping it will go away or that the Iranians will stop if asked nicely is no longer a strategy. Unless the United Nations imposes serious sanctions without delay, the world will be faced with choosing between two catastrophic options: bombing Iran or letting it go nuclear.