This is definitely the worst time for our parliament to send any delegation to Iran. It would weaken our international stand and send mixed signals just when sanctions are starting to work and the mullahs feel they have to start paying a price for their constant violation of international obligations.

George Bernard Shaw used to say that political necessities sometime turn out to be political mistakes. As things stand in ongoing negotiations between the West and Iran, this seems to be the parallel for what is going to happen in yet another round of talks later this month in Russia. Let us consider the current balance of actions.

Will there be an Israeli attack before the new blockade sanctions apply on 1 July 2012, or a US/UK attack after? It depends who wins the argument.

LibDems - the triumph of smugness over ability.

From the point of view of nuclear deterrence this was ideal. A president who could be counted upon to order a nuclear strike, or one who could be counted on to refrain from ordering one, could be out manoeuvred. A president who was apparently irrational could not be.