A few days ago, The Financial Times reported that the European car industry is rubbing its hands with glee in Iran. Renault has signed an agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran worth $ 660 million. Peugeot had preceded it with a 400 million contract. Volkswagen is also returning to Tehran after 17 years.
While the leaders of the car business came to the ayatollahs to sign contracts, an Iranian delegation met with the leaders of the Hamas terrorist movement.
Two days ago, Tehran became the first source of support for Hamas again after the Palestinian jihadist group in 2012 broke with Iran over the civil war in Syria. That break has been mended. The new Hamas leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, just praised the “excellent” relations between Hamas and Iran. Teheran is now “the biggest supporter of the Izz el Deen Qassam brigades with money and weapons”.
With the end of the sanctions, Iran is full of money. In the five months following the removal of sanctions, Iranian exports – excluding oil – rose by $ 19 billion. Oil production, averaging 2.5 million barrels a day during the sanctions, has been skimmed in the last few months to nearly four million barrels a day. Equally,billions in revenue have come in and are increasing.
Obama and Kerry have been able to mislead the international community, arguing that the only alternative to the nuclear deal would has been a new war. That was not true. The alternative was to insist on sanctions. Global jihad has been encouraged by the nuclear agreement. Hamas now feels secure and ready for a new war, which will be paid for by the citizens of Gaza and by the Israeli people.
If Hamas were rational, it would invest in prosperity rather than in jihad against Israel. But radical Islam is not rational. In Nigeria, Boko Haram butchers people who already live under sharia, the Islamic law. In the north of Israel there is Hezbollah, also boosted by Iran’s money.
A few weeks ago, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini went on a mission to Tehran. She was photographed with an Islamic veil, smiling at the ayatollahs. She is the symbol of Europe’s appeasement of radical Islam.
Israel will pay for this betrayal. But it will survive. Europe will suffer for its own appeasement. But its survival is less certain.
EU and BHO money …