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About this quote

What does it mean?
Peres argues that Iran poses significant challenges internationally despite its cultural or historical stature, describing it as fundamentally weak.
In plain terms
Iran causes trouble but is not powerful.
What can you take from it?
Assess nations by their actual strength, not just their reputation.

Where it applies

  • international relations analysis
  • strategic planning
  • diplomatic assessments

Putting it to work

  • evaluate state capacity
  • inform policy decisions
  • guide resource allocation

Questions to consider

  • How do you define a great country?
  • Does causing problems imply strength?

Another view

The assessment of weakness is subjective and may ignore asymmetric capabilities.

More from Shimon Peres

  1. The president of Iran should remember that Iran can also be wiped off the map.

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  2. Optimists and pessimists die the same way. They just live differently. I prefer to live as an optimist.

    Permalink to quote #6
  3. If world is suspicious that Israel may detonate nuclear bomb and if the suspicion is a deterrent - that's good enough.

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