Iran, with long experience in a tough neighborhood, has played its cards pretty shrewdly in its multiple confrontations with the West. It's moving ahead with its nuclear program despite intense pressure from the outside world, has strengthened its position in Iraq and has used violent terrorist groups like Hezbollah to do its bidding in places such as Lebanon. $144 dollar-a-barrel oil hasn't hurt, either.

Iran's leaders also appear to be shrewd enough to know that any comment on the U.S. presidential campaign could backfire.

We were in New York yesterday for an on-the-record luncheon with Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki (that's his official photo from Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs up there).

One of our colleagues asked Mottaki whether Iran is waiting for the U.S. election, and a possible President Barack Obama, before  moving ahead with negotiations over its alleged nuclear weapons program. Obama, after all, has said he would open direct, unconditional--but tough--dialogue with Iran.

Mottaki replied: "In order to make sure that different candidates running for the elections in America do not run into any trouble, we never comment about that." Translation: An Iranian endorsement of Obama, or anyone else for that matter, would be the kiss of death.

Almost as an afterthought, the Iranian foreign minister added: "We emphasize policies that are carried out, not those that are declared."

Still not clear if Tehran's hopes lie with Obama, since he has pledged dialogue, or presumptive GOP presidential candidate John McCain, who might be a bit more of a known quantity.