Iran’s foreign minister declares a nuclear deal with the United States has ‘never been closer,’ and the British government, in a fit of uncharacteristic wisdom, urges caution. One must ask: are we witnessing a genuine diplomatic breakthrough or a masterclass in Persian rug-weaving? The latter, I suspect.
Tehran’s overtures are as predictable as the fall of Rome: a cynical ploy to extract concessions while enriching uranium under the table. The Victorians understood the game; they called it ‘the Great Game.’ We moderns, with our naive faith in treaties and trust, have forgotten.
The UK’s caution is well-placed. Let us not rush to embrace a deal that, like so many before it, will be honoured more in the breach than the observance.
