Testing Iran

After a week of disarray and competing signals, it appears that Iran's government is backing away from a deal to transport almost all its enriched uranium abroad for processing. Khamenei wants to transport it bit by bit, which would keep Iran's potential for nuclear breakout just about where it is. We should wait for clarification. But what it signals to me is a classic attempt to avoid real compromise, to play for time and to try and spin all this as a victory for the coup government. Getting Tehran's intransigence clearly acknowledged, if this pans out, will be important. So will preparing sanctions to keep the pressure up. My sense is that the regime feels vulnerable - and could be pushed into further concessions. Stay tuned...