In all the debate about whether or not the U.S. should talk to Iran about halting its nuclear program, something critical was overlooked: Iran’s very refusal to discuss the matter. Today, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said, “Suspension of enrichment has no logical reason behind it. We believe that no proposals should be made that lead to the Iranian nation being denied its rights.” In other words, “Don’t even talk to us about stopping enrichment.”

Yet, the EU, along with China and Russia, are talking to them about stopping enrichment. The new sanctions on Iran are merely an extension of a package of proposals meant to induce Tehran to cooperate. Here’s Reuters:

The EU official stressed the sanctions were based on measures agreed by the U.N. Security Council and that six powers — the five permanent members of the Council plus Germany — still sought an answer from Iran to their incentives offer.

“We are continuing with the double-track,” the official said of the carrot-and-stick policy that has until now not induced Iran to curb a nuclear program, suspected by the West of being a cover for making an atom bomb.

But there is no carrot. And in the meantime Tehran is continuing with their double-track: uranium enrichment and missile construction. Moreover, the incentives farce is buying the regime time and giving them cover. While Hosseini completely ignores the idea of halting enrichment, he responds in the meaningless Western diplospeak of which talk fetishists just can’t get enough:

We believe this common ground is encouraging. We say that this common ground can help with the start of negotiations. Time is ripe for these talks and we should not lose this opportunity. We feel that compared to years past there is a more pronounced serious will on the side of the other party.

This is a calculated regurgitation of Western anti-Bushisms, and it will undoubtedly play well among present day liberals who think the greatest challenge of international relations is showing the rest of the world how nice we are.

So, the enrichment goes on with the benefit of a little good PR. “What’s there to lose by talking?” people often ask. Everything.