When Iranian MP Ali Larijani said “this is just the beginning of the road” in reference to expel British Diplomat Dominic Chilcott from the country, he wasn’t bluffing. The British Embassy in Iran has just been stormed by Khomeini hooligans, the demonstration closely resembling that of the U.S. Embassy crisis of 1979. The Iranian road of isolation and destruction has just begun.
The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations specifically outlines international agreements made to protect embassies and their personnel. Contrary to popular belief, this does not mean the embassy is considered sovereign territory. It does mean, however, that persons and resources within are protected.
Article 22 specifically states:
1.The premises of the mission shall be inviolable. The agents of the receiving State may not enter them, except with the consent of the head of the mission.
2.The receiving State is under a special duty to take all appropriate steps to protect the premises of the mission against any intrusion or damage and to prevent any disturbance of the peace of the mission or impairment of its dignity.
3.The premises of the mission, their furnishings and other property thereon and the means of transport of the mission shall be immune from search, requisition, attachment or execution.
When Iranian hooligans abruptly stormed the United States Embassy of Iran in 1979, international outcry unleashed. Sixty-six embassy personnel were held captive for 444 days while six U.S. diplomats evaded capture. The crisis swiftly ended in 1981 within minutes upon the inauguration of President Ronald Reagan.
Compare and contrast the U.S. Presidency between that of 1979 and 1981. Carter, a weak President, was observed as such among numerous enemy states like Iran. But soon, America’s great Ronald Reagan took office and enemy states like Iran quickly cowered. Will another Reagan appear in due time to finally squash the Iranians?
During the Iran hostage crisis, one nation state became empowered–Iraq. International support to the former Saddam regime flourished. The United States provided military armament, intelligence, and even satellite technical assistance to Saddam. Ever since, Iran has never been observed as “the good guys.”
Could Israel become the Iraq of 1981? Obviously, there is no comparison between Iraq and Israel. Israel is much more competent, much more trustworthy, and much more capable than Iraq ever was or ever will be. They have been chomping at the bit to unleash offensive actions against the Khomeini regime, and today they should have a green light to move forward.
Iran has demonstrated its ill will time and again. Nuclear developments, a foiled Saudi assassination on U.S. territory, spy rings compromised, and proxy uprisings throughout the Middle East are more than enough reasons to impose actions against Iran–actions much greater than sanctions.
In the past two weeks, we have learned of unique and deadly explosions throughout Iran. Two weeks ago, seventeen Iranian military personnel were killed along with Brig.Gen. Hassan Moghadam, one of their top missile defense architects, in a mysterious explosion. Today, news reports another mysterious explosion occurred in Isfahan city–home to one of Iran’s major Iranian nuclear research centers.
Maybe these explosions are pure coincidence. Maybe they are the aftermath of unique clandestine activities. No one will likely know the answers to how or even the possibility of who may have been involved in these incidents. Should we expect more of these unique and mysterious explosions in the near future due to the recent British Embassy calamity?
Iran had crossed many lines on numerous occasions in recent months. They aggressively tormented the United States, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Israel, and now Britain. Sanctions will play little value against Iran for their unruliness. The mysterious Iranian explosions of the past may become obvious in the future. The international community desperately needs another Reagan-like President in its immediate future to once and for all free the world from the Iranian threat.
Kerry Patton, a combat service disabled veteran, is a senior analyst for WIKISTRAT. He has worked in South America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe, focusing on intelligence and security and interviewing current and former terrorists, including members of the Taliban. He is the author of Sociocultural Intelligence: The New Discipline of Intelligence Studies and the children’s book American Patriotism. You can follow him on Facebook.