The Hand That Feeds the Fire

European and American officials were surprised by the obstinacy, but also intrigued. Larijani arrived in Brussels with what one described as a "huge" delegation, suggesting the various members were keeping an eye on each other. "It could be that they have not made up their minds," said the official.

Perhaps. Iranian bloggers and other commentators suggest the regime is badly divided over Ahmadinejad's radical rhetoric, and the risks he is running in the confrontation over nuclear arms. Nevertheless, as soon as the fruitless talks in Brussels had adjourned, the delegation went straight to Damascus. And the next day, Nasrallah started his war.

With Richard Wolffe in St. Petersburg, Joanna Chen and Dan Ephron in Jerusalem, Scott Johnson in Baghdad, and Mark Hosenball and John Barry in Washington

© 2006