Last November, the UK government accused Iran of supplying Iraqi insurgents with advanced bomb making materials originating from Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Yesterday, March 7, the United States, through Donald Rumsfeld, accused Iran of “infiltrating Iraq” with para-military forces to stir up trouble, mainly in the South.

Asked whether the alleged insertion of Iranian forces into Iraq was backed by the central government in Tehran, Mr Rumsfeld said: “Of course, the Qods force does not go milling around willy-nilly, one would think.”

Today, in front of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Iranian diplomats said Iran could “cause harm and pain” to the US just as easily as the US could to it.

The United States may have the power to cause harm and pain but it is also susceptible to harm and pain.

“So if the United States wishes to choose that path, let the ball roll.”

Both Iran and the US need to be very careful here. Iran is clearly trying to bare it’s teeth… but it’s likely to bite off much more than it can chew, even with the US so totally overextended in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet at the same time, the US must be careful, another war, even just airstrikes, could seriously disrupt oil *flow* temporarily; and oil prices for a very extended period of time. The choice of words of “harm and pain” are very appropriate… as conflict between the two countries would likely be at a relatively low level, most of the damage would be economic and social, on both sides, rather than military.

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