Any real sanctions against the ayatollahs would have surely derailed the talks, as Iranians, in their usual manner, would protest by walking out.
The Senate’s support for the sanctions was unanimous, which suggests that the sanctions were unacceptable to no one.
New sanctions follow the US drive to water down the existing sanctions by providing exemptions to EU countries and accepting minor reductions in oil purchases from Iran by Asian economies.

Iran already circumvents the sanctions on its oil shipping company by hiring foreign tankers, and it has established its ability to sell its entire oil output to third-world countries unconcerned with American sanctions.

Meanwhile, Iran is trying to engage France under new leadership.

Israel indeed demonstrated her ability to deal with the S300 during the Cyprus maneuvers.

Curiously, even the Russians overestimated the Israeli government, which to this day refuses to bomb Iran.

At the same time there will be a major Iranian trade delegation in India to increase trade, including oil sales. It has been suggested that the mere appearance of a reduction in Iranian oil purchases will be enough to get the waiver
This would be the same situation that exists with China, which pays lip service to US sanctions and still benefits from access to cheaper Iranian oil.

Sending animals into space is a way to test a missile’s reentry capability, which is crucial for ICBMs.

Iran’s missile program is far more advanced than those of North Korea and Pakistan.

In an unrelated development, the Russians sent Iran two shiploads of dual-use commodities that may be precursors to chemical weapons.

Iran is working on producing its own rods, which would eliminate the need for the ayatollahs to import them from Russia. More importantly, the spent rods could be reprocessed for plutonium.

North Korea is going to test its plutonium bomb. All indications are that the test is being paid for by Iran, which possesses nuclear-capable ballistic missiles.

More broadly, the execution of homosexuals is similarly prescribed under Jewish religious law, which the government lacks the guts to implement.

Diskin claims, outrageously, that Iran would only develop nuclear weapons in response to Israeli threats.

His remarks echo similar statements by the former Mossad chief Dagan.

The fatwa is less than straightforward, and readily makes an exception allowing for the nuking of cities where no Muslims live, attacking enemy armies with nuclear weapons, developing nukes for deterrent purposes, or warning Muslims to leave a doomed place—as indeed Osama had done. It’s telling that the fatwa has not prevented the Iranians from developing nuclear weapons so far. Moreover, a more strident prohibition of weapons of mass destruction, issued by the much more authoritative Ayatollah Khomeini, is now forgotten.

Besides, not all fatwas are written in stone. Some may be added to, some may have conditions added to them, and some may even be changed or rescinded. There is anticipation in Iran that the fatwa on nuclear arms will be changed or altered
when it is convenient for the clergy.