YES, AYATOLLAH:

Tehran boosts hopes of end to nuclear standoff (Robert Tait, June 9, 2006, The Guardian)

Mr Ahmadinejad hedged his offer with warnings that Iran would not surrender to threats. He did not mention a UN incentives offer delivered to Tehran this week by the EU's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, as part of a possible deal. But his endorsement of talks corresponded with the upbeat reception given the package by Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, who has described it as "positive" and a basis for negotiations. [...]

Analysts interpreted Mr Ahmadinejad's latest comments as an attempt to influence Iran's stance on the nuclear talks, over which the ultimate arbiter is the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

"We are moving away from confrontation and the situation seems to be getting better step by step," said Saeed Leylaz, a Tehran-based analyst. Mr Leylaz did not believe Mr Ahmadinejad made the ultimate decisions, however. "He is simply trying to influence the process. I don't believe uranium enrichment is an issue for the country. Much more important are security guarantees, removal of sanctions and fair access to global markets, especially in technology and foreign investment. If you resolve those points reaching agreement on uranium enrichment will be relatively easy."

Ahmadinejad just isn't important to the process.

Posted by Orrin Judd at June 9, 2006 7:45 AM