Kerry: Iran Moving Closer to Nuclear Weapons

Warns 'Confrontation' Increasingly Possible

Speaking today in Qatar, Secretary of State John Kerry accused Iran of moving ever closer to acquiring a nuclear weapon, insisting that they are “pushing the limits” of America’s patience and that “confrontation” is increasingly possible.

The comments follow what have been virtually daily screeds from the State Department since the end of the most recent P5+1 talks with Iran, which everyone involved other than the United States seems to agree marked significant progress.

The Obama Administration, by contrast, seems determined to pretend the talks never even happened, reiterating their military threats against Iran and reiterating claims that fly in the face of America’s own intelligence community estimates, which have shown Iran isn’t even attempting to acquire nuclear weapons, let alone nearing completion.

The administration’s reaction seems to be aimed primarily at placating Israel, which has been very public about the unwelcomeness of a diplomatic solution with Iran, insisting that only military threats can even force the nation to abandon its civilian program. President Obama is scheduled to visit Israel soon, in a visit which Israeli officials had initially hoped would set the stage for a summer war with Iran.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.