Iran simply can’t make up its mind it seems:
One of the diplomats told The Associated Press that Iranian government officials in Tehran were discussing maintaining their freeze on uranium conversion because of a warning from key European countries that such a move would result in “consequences … that would only be negative for Iran” — diplomatic code for likely action by the U.N Security Council.
In Tehran, Hasan Rowhani, Iran’s top nuclear negotiator, appeared to be creating some wiggle room to allow his country to maneuver.
While saying his country would “resume part of its nuclear activities in the near future,” his statement Thursday appeared more vague than other recent Iranian pronouncements warning such a move would come in the next few days.
The more conservative Iranian leaders are having difficulty pushing a full out hardline stance through, obviously. One of the last things the more moderate members of the Majlis want is to allow reformers a major rallying point during a presidential election season where many true moderates have given up on the political process altogether. The Europeans are playing a good bluff (I simply cannot see how the Security Council would be able to act in concert on comprehensive sanctions) and it’s working, although in a rather roundabout way. Domestic, not international, public opinion may be pushing Iran toward a less confrontational stance, although that doesn’t mean the situation cannot change without any clear warning — this is Iran, after all.