Iran rejects nuclear halt

At first blush, it appears that this continues the international game of chicken between Iran and the UN.

Shorter Iran: We'll talk about suspending nuclear development but suspension can't be a precondition for talks.

Shorter UN: Suspend your nuclear efforts first, then we'll talk (and throw a bunch of economic incentives your way).

Iran reportedly will make a counteroffer of some kind, and it will be interesting to see the details of its "new formula for resolving the issue through talks." In the meantime, U.S. blunders in the region have left us relatively powerless to affect the course of this standoff. The Bush administration is pushing hard for tough sanctions, but sanctions simply aren't going to work on a country with that much oil wealth, and Saddam showed his neighbors how autocratic regimes can get around sanctions (and even use them to vilify the West to drum up domestic support).

I'm certainly not pleased about the specter of a nuclear Iran, so I hope negotiations bear fruit. On the other hand, none of the parties look ready to make concessions.