The rabidly nationalistic premier of Iran, Mohammed Mossadegh, now is breaking off diplomatic relations with Great Britain. That makes the difference over Iran’s oil wider than ever; and this will not help anybody—except perhaps the Russians.

In the 18 months since this dispute broke out, Iran has shown that it cannot handle its oil resources. The seized refinery at Abadan is as idle as an abandoned carriage factory. The Iranians have not been able to sell even the oil which was on hand when the British left. And without oil revenues the country is virtually bankrupt.

Meanwhile, the British have recognized the legality of the oil nationalization. They have made concessions in connection with a proposal under which they would refine and market Iranian oil on a royalty basis. And in conjunction with the United States, they have proposed that Iran submit their claim of compensation for the seized refinery to the International Court of Justice. This proposal also carried the offer of a $10,000,000 loan from the United States to Iran. But in stubbornly insisting on his own terms, Mossadegh has brought the matter to its present extreme position.

What happens next is hard to say. Like an Oriental peddler, Mossadegh may have said more than he meant, but British pride is not conducive to more haggling, especially since the British have found ways of getting along without Iranian oil at least for the time being. But hard-pressed Iran is hardly in shape to play a waiting game. The lachrymose Mossadegh’s action may have political repercussions, and those repercussions may give the Russians a chance to take a hand in the game. It is easy enough to deplore the folly of a nationalism so extreme that it undermines solvency.

If the international situation were not what it is, Britain and the United States might let the kettle simmer for a while trusting circumstances to bring the Iranians to a more reasonable attitude. But the question is whether such a course can now be followed without giving the Kremlin an opportunity for which it, no doubt, has long been waiting.