U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, concluding two days of talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, said Monday that Hamas militants and their backers in Iran and Syria are sabotaging the Middle East peace negotiations.

"It is clearly a difficult situation, in part because I think it's true, there's evidence, that Hamas is supported by Iran and Syria and that they're doing everything they can to torpedo the peace process," Cheney told reporters.

Cheney said there is ongoing concern about the extent to which arms are being smuggled across the Egyptian border into the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, where they are being used by Hamas fighters to attack Israel.

Meanwhile, the radical "conservatives" (as they are mislabeled) in Iran are set to regain control as 86 seats in the 290 seat parliament are to be decided in the second round of elections come April 25. These radicals swept the first round and won all the seats that were decided outright in Tehran, prompting allegations of foul play from the "reformists" (as they too are mislabeled). 

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is only barely keeping his prestige intact with this month's elections, in large part due to his populist spending policies that have triggered nation-wide inflation.

Ahmadinejad came to power in 2005 promising to spread Iran's oil wealth to the people. Since then, soaring world oil prices have swelled national revenues, but economists say colossal subsidies and presidential handouts have predictably fuelled inflation. While the president is basking in support from Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for his tough nuclear stance, his economic record could possibly dent his chances of re-election next year.

Of course, Iran's economy has been affected by U.N. and unilateral U.S. sanctions, but it is hard to believe that increased economic pressure would force Iran's leaders to compromise in their battle over the nuclear program with the United States and its allies. "They're in a crunch, but the reality is they have a very high tolerance for economic hardship," a Western diplomat said. Coupled with Iran's pride, cultural resilience, and historical resistance toward foreigners, Iran's embrace of radical Islam give us little reason to hope that the Islamic Republic will stop supporting terrorist organizations or surrender its goal of becoming a nuclear power without increased pressure.