Iran has, as we know, no plans to build an atomic bomb. Rather as Labour had no plans to spend another six billion quid without telling us. Or indeed, the EU had no plans to involve Britain in the Eurobailout.

There is a time-limit on truth, and the definition of it is always changed by what Harold Macmillan called “events dear boy, events”. But with Iran, the truth has remained unchanged since Mahmoud Ahmadinnejad took over the reins in Tehran: they are going to build a bomb, and – given half a chance – they are going to drop it on Israel.

My reason for concluding this involves the time-honoured Slog mantra: watch not what they say, but what they do.

Last year, Western powers proposed that Iran transfer its stockpiles of low-enriched uranium to Russia and France, who would process it into a form usable in a research reactor before returning it. The deal was an attempt to allow Iran the benefits of nuclear energy without the concern of it having weapons capabilities. But Tehran rejected the idea.

Why? If all they had in mind was peaceful usage, that was a win-win wasn’t it? No, not at all said the apologists (who, with every month, are getting harder to find): it’s important for Iranian national pride to achieve this themselves.

None of which explains why this morning we learn that it has signed a deal with Turkey and Brazil to do exactly the same swap as the original deal. I understand that the Turks and Brazilians will not, however, be quite so picky about the conditions involved. Not entirely reassuringly, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the media, “I guarantee that we will find the opportunity to overcome these problems, God willing”.

I also understand Washington is relatively relaxed about the deal. I further understand that the British Foreign Office was ‘taken aback’ by the news. Well there’s a first.

The EU is rather too busy trying to save its own skin to worry about deals between the second maddest regime on Earth and a neighbour it was (until very recently) keen to have in the Eurozone. Iranian insanity and EU chaos are far more important to the UK’s safety than what Washington does or doesn’t want to do.

Hague needs to get on this case, and fast. And politely ignore at least 70% of what the Mandarins tell him.