At least it wasn't a Ford Cortina

It's an indictment of the limited capabilities of the Vast Rightwing Conspiracy that there are days when we feel that we could do a better job of finding grist for the War on Terror mill than they can. Consider for instance the question of Iran and its ongoing talks about nuclear capability with European countries. Now, if one was of a suspicious mind about whether the European partners really have their heart in this effort, one's eyes could be caught by this BBC story:

French carmaker Renault is to build its Megane saloon model in Iran from 2006 ... The [Iran-Renault] venture is 51% owned by Renault, despite a law passed this year banning foreign firms from majority ownership.

The law, passed in September 2004, imposed a retroactive 20 March cut-off point. Renault signed its deal for Renault Pars, as the venture is known, four days earlier.

To say the least, that timing works out rather conveniently for Renault, leaving it a guaranteed role as the only foreign owned car manufacturer in the country. Clearly however the deal hasn't made it to the White House talking points, because the VRC doesn't have a word to say about it.

One other thing: whatever might be fishy about this deal, it clearly represents a stylistic improvement for Iranian cars. As the BBC story explains:

Iran, like many other countries, has had a history of borrowing car designs from abroad. For 40 years, its most popular car was the Paykan, a pollution-spewing copy of the 1960s British Hillman Hunter.

Indeed. Put yourself in the position of being a trendy young Persian. Would you rather have a vehicle that wouldn't look out of place on the Rue du Cherche Midi, or this car?