Friday January 5, 2007

I've Been Thinking:

Ali Larijani, Iran's top nuclear negotiator, is in China.
He is not there to talk about the price of tea.

Larijani is also head of Iran's National Security Council.
His main objective is to confirm that China will back Iran in the quest for nuclear research.
China is Iran's key to the United Nations.
China sits on the Security Council which gives the Chinese an automatic veto. China also imports approximately $100 billion in energy from Iran annually.
In Iran's eyes the only power in the world able to challenge the US is China.

Here is the twist:
Iran wants to secure a real agreement from China - that means a real commitment from China.

It boils down to one central issue:
Does China want to fight the United States on the issue of Iran's nuclear activity, are China's energy needs worth a knock out battle with Uncle Sam.

Larijani thinks it is worth the trip.