IRAN: It doesn't matter how much "progress" has been made during negotiations with the Iranians. They are intent upon resuming enrichment of uranium and nothing -- short of a credible threat or the actual use of military force -- is likely to cause them to seriously reconsider. The negotiations were never likely to have gone anywhere, and were most probably a stalling tactic by the Iranians to buy some time.

Those who are deluding themselves that negotiations with Iran have even a remote chance of success must face up to reality. The choice is this: Accept an Iranian nuclear program which will lead to the production of deliverable nuclear weapons or issue the Iranians an ultimatum to dismantle their uranium enrichment, and other nuclear related facilities, along with a serious threat of military force that will destroy their capacity to enrich uranium and produce nuclear delivery vehicles.

If the Iranians -- as is expected -- shortly resume the enrichment of uranium, you can bet that it will not be long before the Israelis come to believe that they have no choice but to act to neutralize the Iranian danger. The Israelis are simply never going to accept a potentially nuclear armed Iran, and it would be wrong for the United States to directly - or indirectly - suggest that they do so by dissuading them from taking military action should it become necessary. In any event, the Israelis are not likely to be receptive to such a message if they believe that the Iranians are on the verge of producing a deliverable nuclear weapon.

The current situation with Iran cannot be resolved diplomatically. It is inevitably headed toward either the acceptance of a nuclear Iran or the neutralization - by the Iranians or by outside force if necessary - of any capacity Iran possesses to produce a deliverable nuclear weapon.