The return of a determined Iran

AT FIRST glance, the entire greater Middle East appears to be sliding into chaos. Civil war continues to rage in Syria, while its neighbours — particularly Jordan and Lebanon — strain under the weight of more than 2m refugees.

Libya has largely descended into tribal anarchy, and a weak Afghan regime is bracing itself for Nato’s withdrawal in 2014. Egypt’s military-backed government has extended the state of emergency, and Iraq is witnessing a surge in sectarian violence, with more than 5,000 civilians killed and almost 14,000 wounded this year.

Yet there is an exception to this pattern where one would perhaps least expect it. For decades, Iran has cast a menacing shadow of confrontation over the Middle East; now, the Islamic Republic appears eager to end the showdown with the West over its nuclear programme.