海角大神

Iran鈥檚 appeal for "dignity鈥� and 鈥渞espect鈥� took new form today in a聽 on the eve of another round of nuclear talks in Geneva.

The campaign-style video 鈥� which begins with scenes of Mr. Zarif walking through the ornate halls of the foreign ministry in Tehran and ends in a flourish of piano music while he pretends to do paperwork 鈥撀爏ought to strike notes of both determination and calm reason from Iran as negotiators launch a third round of talks in Geneva.聽

Speaking in English in measured and reassuring tones beside a bookcase and an Iranian flag, the American-educated Zarif said聽Iran's聽nuclear program was peaceful and a natural extension of a century of challenging tyranny.聽

鈥淔or us Iranians, nuclear energy is not about joining a club or threatening others,鈥� said Zarif. 鈥淣uclear energy is about a leap, a jump toward deciding our own destiny, rather than allowing others to decide for us. For us, nuclear energy is about securing the future of our children, about diversifying our economy鈥�. What would you do, if you were told this was not an option? Would you back down?鈥�

Talks between Iran and the P5+1 group (the US, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany) made little progress from early 2012 through this summer. But the August inauguration of centrist President Hassan Rouhani transformed Iran鈥檚 policy to one of outreach in a bid to resolve the nuclear issue and remove US-orchestrated global sanctions.

But Mr. Rouhani's administration is up against聽narratives that undermine that effort.聽

The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), a political wing for the Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK), an exiled opposition group that's frequently been called a cult, claimed聽on Monday聽in Paris that Iran was 鈥渆stablishing or completing parallel secret and undeclared sites for its nuclear project鈥� inside a 1,800-foot tunnel network beneath a military complex, according to Reuters.

Iran today called the claim of a hidden site "baseless."聽

罢丑别听惭贰碍, which was taken off the US terror list in 2012 after 15 years,聽seeks regime change in Iran.

Although the聽MEK did reveal Iran鈥檚 large centrifuge plant at Natanz and the Arak聽heavy water聽reactor in 2002 鈥� based on data provided by Israel for the group to release 鈥� most of its past claims on Iran's nuclear program have been proven false, according to United Nations nuclear inspectors. Iran is heavily monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which reported last week that Iran had stopped expanding its nuclear programs since Mr. Rouhani came to office.

The MEK's 2002 revelations set in motion a decade of concern about Iran鈥檚 nuclear聽intentions.

Zarif鈥檚 message that Iran is searching earnestly for common ground with the West is also at odds with recent moves from the country's military.

On Monday, Iran unveiled what Fars News Agency described as called Fotros, which it claimed can fly 30 hours nonstop with a range of more than 1,200 miles at 25,000 feet.聽The drone can be armed with missiles, can easily conduct combat operations, and can send "precise images and films throughout the mission," said Iranian Defense Minister Brig. Gen. Hossein Dehqan.聽

A 23mm triple-barreled Gatling-style cannon that shoots 900 rounds a minute, billed as an 鈥渁nti-cruise missile weapon system,鈥澛爓as also unveiled聽Monday. Iranian media also reported on a new lightweight sniper rifle and a shoulder-fired missile to bring down helicopters that one officer said 鈥渉as no foreign rival.鈥�

On top of that, Iran plans to start large military exercises on聽Nov. 22, the final day of the Geneva III talks, that will display armored and airborne power.

Iran sees those efforts as deterrence聽in the face of threats of military action from the US and Israel, said Armed Forces deputy chief of staff Brig. Gen. Massoud Jazayeri.聽

鈥淭he Americans鈥� catch-phrase 鈥榯he military option is on the table鈥� is a bluff. They are aware of [our] capabilities,鈥� said Mr. Jazayeri the day after the last round of talks ended without a deal, according to Fars. 鈥淭he slightest military mistake against Iran will make the Americans witness the heaviest damage in the history in their own eyes.鈥�

Such posturing has been a staple since the 1979 Islamic revolution. The video message from Zarif today indicates Iran wants a reason to ease that rhetoric.

鈥淭he choice is not submission or confrontation,鈥� said Zarif. 鈥淭his past summer our people chose constructive engagement through the ballot box. And through this they gave the world a historic opportunity to change course.鈥�

Capitalizing on this opportunity, he said,聽will require 鈥渃onviction that we cannot gain at the expense of other, a conviction that we either win together, or lose together. That balance is key to success.鈥�