Iran Remains Defiant as Nuclear Talks Fail Once Again (Second Coming Watch Update #21)

Iran remains defiant as nuclear talks fail once again. According to Reuters, the U.N. nuclear watchdog ended its latest mission to Iran after talks on Tehran's suspected secret atomic weapons research failed, a setback likely to increase the risk of confrontation with the West. The United States criticized Iran over the failure of the International Atomic Energy Agency's latest mission, saying it again showed Tehran's refusal to abide by its international obligations over its nuclear program.

Russia Again Warns Israel Against a Strike on Iran. According to Reuters, Russia warned Israel that attacking Iran would be disastrous. Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov told a news conference, "Of course any possible military scenario against Iran will be catastrophic for the region and for the whole system of international relations." It was one of Russia's starkest warnings yet against resorting to force to deal with Iran.

Israel says Iran will have a U.S.-range missile in 2-3 years. According to Reuters, an Israeli minister said Israel believes that within 2-3 years Iran will have intercontinental missiles able to hit the United States. His remarks were aimed at raising awareness of the threat it believes a nuclear Iran would pose to the world. Analysts now estimate the longest range of an Iranian missile to be about 1,500 miles, capable of reaching Tehran's arch-enemy, Israel, as well as Europe.