Iran is back in the club

Russia is on the verge of delivering the first S-300 aerial defense system to Iran. Iranian banks are reconnecting with the SWIFT global transaction network. And officials from Airbus, which recently signed a $27 billion deal to sell 118 planes to Iran, are telling European banks not to be afraid to finance deals with Iran, despite U.S. sanctions that are still in effect. That's it, friends. We are in a new era. Iran is a member of the gentlemen's club.

In a world in which Iran is like any other nation, there is no reason not to do business with it. In uncertain economic times, the billions of dollars of unfrozen Iranian money are calling out to companies, countries and individual businesspeople. The adage, "Money does not smell," has never been more applicable.

But Iran has not really changed -- not in deeds nor in rhetoric. Everyone knows this. But the West excels in games of hypocrisy.

The world has decided the Iranians are legitimate partners who are entitled to defend themselves. Russia's sale of the S-300 to Iran is frightening. For residents of the Middle East, this is a dark day. And there have been too many dark days in the region recently.

Israel, as well as the Gulf states, know very well that Iran has not changed and will not change. How can a revolutionary regime suddenly become a good boy? Iran is still trying to sow revolution in as many countries as possible. The Obama administration enables Iran to do so and has even become a promoter of Iran's interests.

The Iranians know how to spread their message. They did not need access to the SWIFT global transaction network to do so, but it's a nice bonus for them.

Iran's ailing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was healthy enough to declare that the results of the upcoming elections in Iran later this month would disappoint the country's enemies. In a militant speech before a large and enthusiastic crowd, Khamenei referred to the U.S. as an enemy. Was this chutzpah? No, it was a display of Khamenei's confidence in the world's indifference.

It is truly stunning how Iran can deride everyone yet also be accepted as an upstanding member of the international community at the same time.

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