Senior officials: We're at a "pivot point" with Iran

Senior U.S. officials said the Obama administration recognizes that it is now at a “pivot point” in its strategy toward Tehran. This shifting U.S. position, said these officials, has been driven by Iran’s rejection of direct negotiations over its nuclear program and its crackdown on democracy activists in the country.

Tehran’s crackdown on protests may be fanning fresh anger at the regime in Iran. But a significant weakening of public support for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad could be a mixed blessing for U.S. and Western officials now trying to determine how the domestic unrest could affect negotiations with Iran over its nuclear ambitions, and whether economic sanctions will hurt or help the regime, analysts say…

U.S. officials said they have begun mapping out with United Nations Security Council members and U.S. allies the next round of economic sanctions likely to be levied against Tehran next year. These talks are expected to accelerate as Mr. Obama’s year-end deadline for Iran to respond to diplomacy passes.