Iran has its "Bring 'em on" moment

In response to the United States hauling Tehran before the U.N. Security Council over its nuclear program. Javad Vaeidi, Iran's chief IAEA delegate said:

"The United States has the power to cause harm and pain. But the United States is also susceptible to harm and pain. So if that is the path that the U.S. wishes to choose, let the ball roll."

I have to say that "let the ball roll" does not have the same macho ring as "bring 'em on" but I am sure it sounds pretty tough in Farsi. What Iran is really telling America is that it is more than able to match any economic or military challenge that America has to throw its way.

This macho statement has elicited the typical macho response from the US. But before the US goes all Gung-Ho it should take a moment to remember what the Chinese Major General Zhu Chenghu said in July 2005:

"if the Americans draw their missiles and position-guided ammunition on to the target zone on China's territory, I think we will have to respond with nuclear weapons," and that "we [...] will prepare ourselves for the destruction of all of the cities east of Xi'an. Of course the Americans will have to be prepared that hundreds ... of cities will be destroyed by the Chinese."

He was referring to Taiwan but this is really another way of saying that China is not scared to use its nuclear weapons to protect its strategic interests.

Given that China and Iran have recently signed a huge long-term strategic gas and oil deal the US should pause to wonder if Iran is now one of China's strategic interests.