It was disturbing when Iran recently sent forces into Iraq to seize control of an oil well in its neighboring country’s territory. Though Iran later withdrew its forces, it called for immediate “talks” with Iraq to clarify just where the border is.
Separately, Iran has finally admitted that three protesters who were arrested after fraudulent elections in June died of repeated beatings while in jail. And the husband of an Iranian human rights activist who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003 was beaten recently, and his wife’s Nobel medal was confiscated.
Much more alarming, of course, is Iran’s ongoing attempt to build nuclear weapons and its recent testing of missiles that can reach Israel, which it threatens to destroy. They could also hit some U.S. military bases in the area.
None of this makes Iran seem like a country that cares very much what the “international community” thinks about its actions. Rather, it appears to be testing the limits to see what it can get away with.
Is there any reason to think Iran will pull back from that reckless course of action so long as the “international community” puts up with it?