Irgc

Considering Javad Larijani's inability to build coalitions with other UN member states and in view of his aggressive conduct, expecting him and his team to effect changes in Iran's standing within the UN appears highly unlikely.

Iran's perception of the United States' declining power in the Middle East and its dream of capitalizing on regional instability have provoked two actions in recent days.

To no one's surprise, the regime ruling Iran is watching the unrest in the Middle East and North Africa, searching for a way to exploit the outcomes to its advantage.

There is no doubt that the U.S.'s and allies' moves in the region are meant to signal to the Iranians that they mean business. Either the Iranians abandon their nuclear armament plans, or the West will destroy their facilities.

There has not been a single credible and independently verifiable finding that the MEK ever targeted any civilians or non-combatants. This is why the Iranian mullahs have fabricated cases against it.

Had there been any evidence of the MEK's collusion with the former Iraqi government on any issue, let alone suppressing the Kurds or the Shiites, it would have surfaced in the seven years since the invasion of Iraq.

Despite a flurry of threats and a hodgepodge of suppressive measures arranged by flustered authorities, Iranians, led by youths, came out in force in defiance of the regime and its Supreme Leader.

The Iranian uprising has ascended and, regardless of crackdown, it will not decline. Rather, it will guide future developments along the lines of toppling the clerical regime and establishing democracy in Iran.

Western countries should not forget that they have a viable way to deter Iran's nuclear programme and that is the imposition of sanctions against the bank accounts and business interests of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp (IRGC) and senior Iranian politicians.

In the neighboring country of Yemen, a very real opportunity to make good on Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's promise of friendship is rapidly emerging for Iran.