It's by now a familiar pattern: Iran's leadership states it will never give up its controversial uranium enrichment program and then the country's nuclear negotiators announce they are prepared for serious talks . Bait and switch? Stalling for time? Or perhaps the last chance for a diplomatic breakthrough?

Iran's dispute with the West has dragged on for years. Whereas Tehran claims its sovereign right to use nuclear power for civilian purposes, Washington and its European allies are convinced the Iranians are merely using its atomic energy program as cover for its clandestine efforts to build a nuclear bomb. But the cat-and-mouse game might soon be over.

The United Nations Security Council -- frustrated with Iran's slow response to the incentives offer made by Britain, Germany, France, China, the United States and Russia in June -- has given it until August 31 to halt enrichment activities or face possible sanctions.

But Iran has rejected any ultimatums or deadlines and its "multi-dimensional" response to the package of incentives could be intended to expose cracks in the Security Council. While the West might now be inclined to slap sanctions on Iran, both China and Russia have sizable economic interest in Iran that they would be reluctant to damage by punishing Tehran.

German newspapers on Wednesday try to sift through Iran's response and determine the international community's best course of action.

The conservative daily Die Welt has considerable doubts that Tehran is honestly willing to negotiate. "Suddenly Iran is in a hurry. And what have they done up till now? Correct: They have not been serious about talks, they have stalled for time, and they duped the international community," writes the paper. The West will now have to quickly determine if Tehran truly wants to return to the negotiating table. "If not -- and nothing yet has shown that Tehran can be convinced to give up its uranium enrichment program -- then the Security Council will have to place sanctions on the country." Failing to do so, argues Die Welt, would harm the UN's credibility. "But the Council isn't united. China's and Russia's interests are in conflict with Washington's uncompromising course. Iran has always successfully exploited just that," writes the paper, believing the only possible solution to the dispute will come if Iran is allowed to have a civilian nuclear power program that is transparent and under international supervision.

The left-wing Berliner Zeitung places blame for any impasse on both Tehran and Washington, calling Iran's response a "tactical answer to a tactical offer." The paper -- no friend of the Bush administration -- argues that the United States has put something on the table that Iran cannot agree to by making stopping uranium enrichment a condition and not a goal of further negotiations. "The political intention is clear. Iran should be able to be blamed for any coming escalation," opines the editorial after cynically implying that Washington only sees the Middle East as a vast market for oil and natural gas.

The business daily Handelsblatt believes the dispute has reached a key turning point. "Until now the goal was to keep (Iran) from building a nuclear bomb with economic and political incentives," writes the paper. "Moving forward, however, the Europeans and Americans will have to discuss sanctions." Since Tehran doesn't appear willing to give up its enrichment activities, the international community has little choice but to respond with the possibility of meting out punishment. "That's why after the carrot now the stick is being threatened." Though the paper argues that the mullahs need to be firmly shown just how far they will be allowed to go, it is also concerned that the dispute could create divisions between the European Union and America. "The West doesn't just have to prevent the Iranians from getting an atomic bomb, it also finally has to solve the problems that are pushing ever more supporters to the radicals."

The center-left Süddeutsche Zeitung addresses the growing confidence of Iran and the implications for the dispute over its nuclear ambitions. "The Iranian leadership doesn't show much fear in the face of possible UN sanctions. Although they backed the ultimatum, (Tehran) is banking on the fact that Russia and China will limit the scope of sanctions," writes the paper. "Tehran expects that its active help or at least its tolerance is necessary to solve the region's problems." When Iran last agreed to freeze enrichment for two and half years, the country felt threatened following wars led by the United States in Afghanistan and Iraq. But the Süddeutsche Zeitung believes ongoing difficulties in both of Iran's neighbors has emboldened the mullah regime and its hard-liner president, Mahmoud Ahamadinejad.