Iran

‘Just as Western governments failed to predict other nations’ nuclear tests before it was too late, so it may come to pass with Iran’

‘Despite appearances, if sanctions continue Iran’s economy will collapse well before it can assemble a nuclear weapon’

Geoffrey Robertson’s latest target is nuclear Iran. But his new book looks through the prism of “legal architectures” and so cannot offer real suggestions as to how to stop the Iranians get the bomb

‘Israel has been threatening to launch a pre-emptive strike on Iran for two years now. Is it merely crying wolf?’

‘The Muslim Brotherhood may make us miss their predecessors. And they may forever disrupt the stability their predecessors guaranteed’

‘Unlike some of their most senior spies, Bibi Netanjahu and Ehud Barak see an attack on Iran in terms of Israel’s survival as a Jewish state’

‘Capitalism renews itself incessantly: it has survived wars and revolutions, booms and busts, depressions and inflations. As long as the West does not renounce capitalism, its long-term prosperity is secure’

‘The intelligentsia ignored the irruption of religious fanaticism into domestic British politics. In the face of these foes of civilisation, silence is the worst form of cowardice’

‘I was fond of my father’s old friend Günter Grass. I’d like to think he knew better’