If this report is correct, calling it an interesting development would be the understatement of the century:

INTELLIGENCE chief Sir John Scarlett has been told that Saudi Arabia is ready to allow Israel to bomb Iran’s new nuclear site.

The head of MI6 discussed the issue in London with Mossad chief Meir Dagan and Saudi officials after British intelligence officers helped to uncover the plant, in the side of a mountain near the ancient city of Qom.

The site is seen as a major threat by Tel Aviv and Riyadh. Details of the talks emerged after John Bolton, America’s former UN ambassador, told a meeting of intelligence analysts that “Riyadh certainly approves” of Israel’s use of Saudi airspace.| MORE ›

Meir Javedanfar wrote an interesting column for the Guardian in which he takes a closer look at Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s messianic beliefs, how they influence him and guide his (country’s) policies. Read the whole thing.

Some quotes:

Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi, studied in the holy city of Qom in Iran.| MORE ›

The New York Times:

The Obama administration and its European allies are preparing proposals that would shift strategy toward Iran by dropping a longstanding American insistence that Tehran rapidly shut down nuclear facilities during the early phases of negotiations over its atomic program, according to officials involved in the discussions.| MORE ›

It took the French a while, but they are finally catching up with the rest of us (who worried about Iran’s nuclear project for months, years even):| MORE ›

North Korea continues to provoke its Asian neighbors, and the West. The Los Angeles Times reports that the thugs in Pyongyang are preparing to test fire another long-range missile, which could theoretically reach Alaska.

The South responded immediately. South Korean President Lee said in a radio address that his nation would not tolerate further provocations from Pyongyang.| MORE ›

North Korea warned the United Nations on Wednesday that it would conduct a second nuclear test and to launch another ballistic missile unless the UN would “apologize” for its condemnation of the North’s recent rocket launch.| MORE ›

I have no idea how to interpret this:

Iran is ready to hold talks with the group of six world powers over its controversial nuclear programme, Saeed Jalili, a top official with Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said on Monday.| MORE ›

The Manhattan district attorney’s office has smashed a plot to smuggle nuclear weapons material to Iran.

New York Daily News reports that a Chinese national has been arrested and charged with setting up fake companies to smuggle “potential nuclear material” to Iran.| MORE ›