I May Not be a Paul Krugman, But ...

Iran claims that it wants the complete nuclear fuel cycle technology because they need it for economic development. They do this with a straight face, too. Sadly, the Euros nod earnestly as the mullahs say this, deeply touched by the earnest way the Iranians are racing to both gain nuclear technology and negotiate with the Euros for... For ... what? Well it doesn't make sense as I start to write it, but the conferences are pretty nice.

Now I'm no Enron-employed economist or anything (or even a film critic), but Iran's single-minded focus to gain nuclear technology for economic reasons makes no sense when the Iranians say this:

"We don't want to be subject to sanctions. We don't want to go to the U.N. Security Council," Vice President Gholamreza Aghazadeh told state-run television. "But if it happens, our leaders and our people will resist as necessary. They will pay the price of sanctions, but I don't believe they will give up these activities."

And just how does it make sense to endure whatever penalties the UN will impose in order to gain the economic benefits of nuclear power? Perhaps UN sanctions are far more ineffective than I thought or nuclear-generated electricity is far more profitable than I thought, but my guess is Iran will pay a fairly sizable economic price if sanctions are put in place and enforced by our Navy.

Of course, if the Iranians want nuclear weapons, this whole exercise becomes completely understandable.

Memo to Europe: Iran wants nukes.