The problem is these cheeseburgers are drenched in oil. Iranian oil. Obama is playing the hardliner on Iran essentially for electoral reasons. Over the next five months he might be able to steer the debate were it not for the Europeans -- following his directive, in fact -- proceeding with their Iranian oil boycott starting on July 1. He dreads the inevitable consequence: an oil price spike. Then it's bye bye European recovery -- duly followed by bye bye Obama's re-election.
This is what makes the next round of talks in Baghdad this week between Iran and the P5+1 nations even juicier. From the point of view of Team Obama, the best possible scenario would be...let's agree to talk some more.
That would leave Obama with a window to press -- through Hollande -- the necessity for Europe to forget about the oil boycott, at least while both parts are talking, and at least for the next six months. After all, the ultra-harsh sanctions package remains in place -- and that is certainly biting the Iranian population, much more than the Tehran leadership.
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