They say they know he has to maintain the credibility of his threat to keep up pressure on the United States to continue with sanctions and the development of military plans.
However, the real leverage in favor of a deal now is that the U.S.' European/NATO allies may no longer be prepared to continue with sanctions and certainly are not inclined toward any military response to Iran.
Diplomats from two major European allies said this week that China had refused even to "engage substantively" on the issue of sanctions, preferring to continue diplomatic efforts with Tehran.
He added the current sanction allowed Rangers to continue to trade and play.
The United States, France and Britain, by contrast, are eager to continue to press Iran with additional sanctions if it does not comply.
The ayatollah sanctioned the payments and authorized Shiites here to continue working with the Americans, Dr. Shammary said.
The alternatives are many – to continue to apply economic sanctions, a policy of carrot and stick, but with much more emphasis on the carrot.
Susan E. Rice, the American ambassador, said the United States would explore ways with its allies to continue to "ratchet up the pressure" on Damascus, including further sanctions.
At his meetings in Singapore, where he is attending a Southeast Asia security conference, Mr. Pompeo intends to urge allies to continue squeezing Pyongyang with sanctions.
China, in particular, has resisted calls for new sanctions, saying it would prefer to continue negotiating.
Mr. Ahmadinejad's visit comes as the United States and other Western countries are seeking to impose new sanctions on Iran for continuing with its nuclear program, which Western officials say is aimed at making a nuclear weapon.
