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European negotiators say they notice a softening of the US position on Iran, reports Reuters:
Diplomats said that recent comments by top U.S. officials indicated Washington might be exploring a potential shift in strategy regarding the Iranian nuclear program, which it believes is a front for developing bombs.
"I think there may be some movement in the U.S. toward a softer approach," a diplomat from the European Union told Reuters. "This change would not happen immediately, but there are hints that it is coming."
The likely change would be an attempt to play the "bad cop" role alongside the EU's "good cop" role as the Europeans pressure Tehran to abandon uranium enrichment permanently.
On Monday, Iran said it has kept a promise it made to the European Union last by freezing its entire uranium enrichment program and the head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog, Mohamed ElBaradei, gave a cautious confirmation.
President Bush reacted to the announcement with mild skepticism. "Let's say, I hope it's true," he said.
European diplomats also said they noticed that Bush acknowledged the possibility the EU initiative might work.