TEHRAN — Iran threatened on Friday to block inspections of its nuclear sites if confronted by the U.N. Security Council over its atomic activities. Its hard-line president reaffirmed his country’s intention to produce nuclear energy.

The move came a day after France, Britain and Germany — backed by the United States — said that nuclear talks with Iran had reached a dead end after more than two years of acrimonious negotiations and the issue should be referred to the Security Council. | story.

Amid all the saber rattling, don’t miss the essential points of Truthdig’s Robert Scheer and Juan Cole: If we’re losing influence over Iran, it’s only because the Iraq war has empowered the Shiites in both countries to link arms against us.

AS CHAOS UNFOLDS, FIND SOLID GROUND…

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