In some ways, it doesn’t overly matter how Western leaders and the Western media perceive the National Intelligence Estimate (nie) released by the United States two weeks ago—what matters the most is how America’s enemies perceive the report.

On Sunday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad explained his perception of the nie during an interview on state television. “It was in fact a declaration of surrender,” he said. “It was a positive action by the U.S. administration to change their attitude and it was a correct move” (emphasis ours throughout).

Reuters reported December 16:

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad also dismissed … the prospect of new UN sanctions against Iran over its refusal to halt sensitive atomic work. “It is too far-fetched,” he said when asked whether he expected the UN Security Council to impose fresh sanctions on Iran following two such resolutions since last December.

Ahmadinejad’s remarks follow his comment earlier this month that the publication of the U.S. National Intelligence Estimate was a “victory” for Iran.