Submitted by Chris Cook, Jan 11, 2007 08:31

No-one who has been to Iran - and I have been involved with the "Iranian Oil Bourse" beloved of conspiracy theorists for some five years now, since I convinced them that an alternative to the current oil market structure is essential -would dream of characterising the country as radical.

It may have been 25 years ago, but it certainly is not now.

What the Iranian people want is a fairer share of the oil dividend, and that was what the President was elected to deliver. Unfortunately, he has run up against the elite.

The only thing that could possibly lead this fiercely proud nation into any sort of radical stance would be to attack them: a step by the US that would literally be insane.

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