CERTAINLY SUGGESTS WHO'S IN CHARGE THERE:

Bush encouraged by Iran response (BBC, 6/07/06)

US President George W Bush says Iran's initial response to international proposals on the future of its nuclear programme seems to be a positive step.

Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, said the package of proposals contained "positive steps", but said there were also "ambiguities". [...]

The BBC's Jonathan Beale in Washington says rarely has the exchange of words between Washington and Tehran sounded so encouraging.

Mr. Larijani is Ayatollah Khamenei's proxy -- indeed, was the cleric's preferred candidate for the presidency -- and they're just going over Ahmedinejad's head.

Posted by Orrin Judd at June 7, 2006 8:02 AM