At last, a moment of clarity from the French government! Agence France-Presse reports that French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier has called the IAEA's November 25 deadline for Iranian compliance "a moment of truth":

French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier said Iran's controversial nuclear program could be referred to the UN Security Council if the world is not reassured about its nuclear ambitions.

"We are waiting clearly from Iran gestures and decisions that will reassure us," Barnier said in a lunch with French media on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

"Since there is a trust problem, dates have been set," he said, referring to a November 25 deadline for Iran to clear up suspicions over its activities or risk having the issue referred to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions -- something the United States has sought. ...

"It will be a moment of truth," Barnier said, referring to the deadline. "I do not know for certain, but I have the feeling that the gravity of this moment has been well understood (by Tehran)."

A moment of truth it most certainly is, but I doubt the French realize that the moment is theirs. Iran certainly will; they don't take the French any seriously than we do, and that's the point. They know that the first deadline likely will pass, and the French or their German colleagues will arrange for another, and another. It's the way the Europeans have always done business. And all the while, the deadlines and the excuses will give the Iranians all the time they need to develop the nuclear weapons they desire.

No, the moment of truth has nothing to do with Iranian compliance. It is what the French will do when the Iranians inevitably defy them.

UPDATE: Iranian compliance. Never post when you're struggling to stay awake (I started this early but didn't finish until after 10).

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Tracked on September 25, 2004 12:22 PM