ARTICLE: Tehran and Tel Aviv in nuclear war of words, By Michael TheodoulouThe National, October 22. 2009

Of course Tehran angrily denies:

Iran yesterday angrily denied Israeli media assertions that senior nuclear officials from the two countries held confidential talks last month in what was portrayed as the first direct exchange between the two arch enemies for 30 years.

Because the reality is, once Tehran truly goes nuclear, it ONLY gets what it wants (deterrent recognized) IF it recognizes Israel.

Each confirmed there were no direct, bilateral talks. The deliberations were meant to be confidential. But leaked accounts of the conference infuriated Tehran, which said the notion of any sort of meeting with Israel was absurd. "The Islamic republic does not recognise the Zionist regime," said Ali Shirzadian, a spokesman for Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation.

No, not yet. But if you want nukes in order to join the big boys club, then you have to do big-boy things.

(Via WPR Media Roundup)