I get the feeling sometimes that the mullahs are really enjoying themselves, jerking around the Europeans: Iran Said Insisting on Enriching Uranium.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Iran, intensifying a standoff over its nuclear programs, has told European officials it will not back down on its right to proceed with uranium enrichment, a senior U.S. official said on Friday.

“The British and the French tell us Iran insists it will not back down on its right to proceed with enrichment,” the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters.

During a meeting in Paris on Thursday that included Germany, the three European delegations responded that halting uranium enrichment was fundamental to a deal negotiated with Tehran last October, the U.S. official said.

The Europeans added that “nothing else was coming if Iran didn’t get back on the road to suspension, leading to cessation of enrichment and reprocessing,” the American said.

“The Road to Suspension,” a new musical starring Kofi Annan. Limited engagement. All ticket sales final.