The United States and Iran today announced a comprehensive energy deal that will pave the way for Iran to increase yearly oil production by nearly 8 million barrels.

Much of the work for this, of course, was paved in the wake of the Bam earthquake (see http://thegoreyears.wordpress.com/2006/10/04/clinton-visits-iran-today/) . Vice President Clinton has been the lead diplomatic force in the recent rapprochement with the Iranian government.

The agreement was signed in Isfahan, the Iranian capital, by Treasury Secretary George Soros and Iranian Treasury Minister Hashemi Jannati.

Senator Barack Obama (D., Illinois), who is second in U.S. national polls behind Clinton in the Democratic Primary, praised her efforts during a campaign visit in Lubbock, Texas. “I can only offer my praise and thanks to the Gore Administration in its diplomacy towards the Middle East. This campaign will not ever be a question about competence. For Democrats, I think we just need to continually ask if we can accept the notion of a dynasty. I believe Americans do not want a continuation of power within one group, one family, or one domain, for very long, because history demonstrates that harsh outcomes often prevail from these kind of things.”

Hillary, needless to say, was quite pleased with the events, and was even considering inviting Bill over for some tea to celebrate, according to sources not close to the Clintons. Bill, however, is in Lagos, Nigeria, on an AIDS charity mission, and is not likely to be seen near Hillary, according to sources close to the Clintons, for a couple of years. Hence the photo, caught by the good folks at http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/.