WALTER RUSSELL MEAD: Iran Votes Early In U.S. Election? “Iran’s attempt to block Mitt Romney (whose pro-Israel rhetoric can’t have endeared him to the mullahs) from the White House won’t come to much; most Americans are deeply skeptical of Iran’s intentions the timing of the announcement is too crude to help. Americans are making up their minds in the presidential race without taking Iranian preferences into account. The step is more a publicity stunt than a serious opening; the proposed halt in enrichment is only good for a couple of weeks and nothing was said about Iran’s continuing push to increase the numbers of centrifuges that can speed up its enrichment process.”