In describing its response to the European package of incentives  aimed at getting Iran to cease uranium enrichment, Iran says it contained "positive and clear signals" and insisted it was a serious offer.

The West has since found other ways to describe it. Initially, Germany termed it "voluminous and complex." The United States said the reply, delivered on Tuesday, "falls short of the conditions set by the Security Council" -- a reference to the demand that Iran completely suspend all uranium enrichment activity. France's reaction was likewise unequivocal, with Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy saying Iran had not taken the necessary steps to return to the negotiating table. And on Thursday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Iran's response was missing "a decisive sentence" on suspension of nuclear activity.

The United Nations is set to consider what steps to take next at the end of the month. But both China and Russia have once again emphasized that they prefer a continuation of negotiations. Indeed, according to an AP report, some think that Iran formulated its response in such a way as to drive a wedge between Security Council members. The US has indicated it will seek economic sanctions if Iran continues enriching uranium.

But is that the right course to follow? German commentators on Thursday aren't so sure.

The Financial Times Deutschland compares the negotiations with Iran to a game of chess. The problem faced by the West, the paper writes, is that it "constantly has to form and sustain changing coalitions. Iran, for its part, is following a clear strategy" -- that of stalling. On the one hand, Iran recently called a recent resolution urging it to suspend uranium enrichment "illegal," and is likely involved in conflicts both in Iraq and Lebanon. But on the other hand, the country says it is ready for serious negotiations. The West has to remain focussed on preventing Iran from developing a nuclear bomb. "We in the West need a diplomatic show of strength to build and sustain a united front against the Iranian nuclear plans," the paper says. Convincing China and Russia to help pressure Iran is an important part of this. "The big question now is whether Western politics is able to pull this off."

Center-left daily Süddeutsche Zeitung mostly agrees, but lays out a more detailed plan of action for the ongoing negotiations. The paper calls Iran's answer "audacious." Reading between the lines, Iran's answer seems to be: "Of course we can negotiate, but only on our terms." Still, negotiations could offer a way out, but it surely won't be easy. "Both sides are so caught up with their own arguments that the path to a diplomatic solution is hardly recognizable anymore." But, the paper warns, instead of rushing to hand out sanctions, the West needs to ponder two fundamental questions: First: "How can the Security Council reprimand Iran for enriching uranium when the country is explicitly allowed to do so by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty?" And second -- with an eye on Russia and China -- the paper asks: "How can the West win over those two states to the idea of issuing effective sanctions?" Plus, the paper points out, if the UN can't even find a way to deal with the crisis in Lebanon, how can it be expected to provide an adequate response to the threat posed by Iran. Conclusion? Even if it's apparent that Iran is playing on these weaknesses in the West, continuing talks may be the only chance the West has of making headway.

Left-leaning Die Tageszeitung clearly sums up their point of view: "Iran's rejection of the UN resolution does not have to lead to sanctions." Why not? As the paper sees it, Iran's reply seems to meet demands for international control of its nuclear program halfway. Iran's answer is "a great chance. Maybe it is even the last chance." As the TAZ sees it, the problem in the past was that the Security Council demanded Iran completely abandon all nuclear activities, even though the country is legally entitled to peaceful nuclear research and development. Such stubbornness made it possible for Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to present himself not only as defending Iran's rights, but as standing up to the mighty West. As a result, the nuclear question has mutated into "a question of national pride and prestige , and even of the country's sovereignty." Now the question is: "How can we reverse this disastrous dynamic?"