BEIRUT — Over the weekend, Iran failed to respond to an informal two-week deadline to give a yes-or-no answer to negotiations on dismantling crucial parts of its nuclear program. It was instead busy in a flurry of diplomatic and military activity to bolster its position.
On Saturday and Sunday, Tehran received a Syrian delegation led by President Bashar Assad, an important Iranian ally, in an apparent effort to coordinate diplomatic strategy and fend off any possible U.S. or Israeli attack.
Last week, Iran rallied foreign ministers of the Non-Aligned Movement gathered in Tehran to support its nuclear program. In recent days, Iranian commanders of the elite Revolutionary Guard Corps met at a base outside the capital to plan defensive maneuvers in case of an attack.
On July 19, Iran declined to respond to a proposal backed by the U.S., Europe, Russia and China to begin preliminary talks meant to lead to the eventual dismantling of parts of its nuclear program, especially its uranium enrichment operation. Enriched uranium is used as fuel in nuclear power plants, but at higher concentrations can make a bomb.
European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana gave Iran a two-week deadline to agree to the talks or face a renewed drive by the United Nations Security Council for a fourth round of economic sanctions. But pressure on Tehran eased after Russia's foreign minister said last week that he opposed "artificial" deadlines. U.S. State Department officials also backed away from the deadline, saying they hoped for an Iranian response soon and would resume the drive for more sanctions if Iranians rejected the offer.
"It is clear that the government of Iran has not complied with the international community's demand to stop enriching uranium and isn't even interested in trying," said Richard Grenell, spokesman for the United States mission at the United Nations.
"They leave the Security Council no choice but to increase the sanctions, as called for in the last resolution passed."
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Sunday that his country was committed to diplomatic negotiations to resolve the standoff. "We are serious in continuation of fair talks that can produce practical and fruitful results," he told reporters in Tehran.
Iranian officials say they doubt that the nuclear dispute will lead to a military confrontation or even substantive economic sanctions soon. But they are trying to broaden their diplomatic, military and public-relations tools to prepare for any possibility, analysts said.
