Some Iranian officials have begun to question the efficacy of Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's confrontational tactics regarding the nation's nuclear program, saying that his strategy is hindering Iran's chances of pursuing nuclear research rather than boosting them.
Many individuals in powerful positions, according to the AP and The New York Times, have voiced concerns that Ahmadinejad's tactics are backfiring, and that the nation's nuclear program will ultimately suffer as a result.
"I tell you, if what they were doing was working, we would say, 'Good,'" said one official on condition of anonymity.
However, he pointed out, in his opinion the Iranian leader had succeeded in doing what the US has tried unsuccessfully to do for decades—have Iran face the UN Security Council.
"For 27 years after the revolution, America wanted to get Iran to the Security Council and America failed. In less than six months, Ahmadinejad did that."
The United Nations Security Council is set to convene once again this week to discuss Iran's nuclear program, as somewhat mixed signals regarding Iran's stand emanate from Tehran.
While Iranian representatives arrived this week in Russia to resume talks, Ahmadinejad vehemently stressed that Iran would never back down to outside demands.
The Iranian leader called on Iran's public to "be angry" at the pressure being applied by the west on Iran for conducting nuclear research, which is Iran's "irrefutable right," he added.
© 2006 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
