"That's not to say the United States should never attempt to negotiate directly with Iran about its nuclear program. But before doing so, the administration should have some indication that the Iranian regime is prepared to comply with binding U.N. resolutions and seriously address other U.S. concerns. A report by U.S. intelligence agencies is an unsatisfying substitute for a signal that has yet to come from Tehran."

Huh? I guess that means that the US shouldn't listen to its own intelligence reports--or that the US should continue ignoring these reports. See how well that has worked in Iraq!

What's wrong with negotiating directly with Iran? The US is clearly not the enforcement arm of the UN, and it seems to me that negotiation is a reasnable way of "addressung other US concerns."