I agree, but it seems highly unlikely to me that Iran prefers Romney over Obama the Incompetent. Unless they are just really, really stupid.
If this can be verified for tonight's debate, it will be fireworks going off underneath Obama. BUT I'll bet that the Obama camp will just deny, deny, deny, and try to use it as a trap for Romney.
That is my thinking..
How would one verify such a thing in time for the debate? My Spidey sense says this may be an attempt at getting Romney to accuse Obama in prime time of an unverified story so as to accuse Romney of "shooting first and asking questions later." That would explain this story (or shades of it in regards to reports of a "deal" with Iran) being put out by the NYT and other liberal mouth pieces.
Three possibilities here:
1. NYT is leaking it because Israel prefers Romney and NYT does not want to publicly support a Republican. There could be internal struggle inside NYT at the moment.
2. Iran understands that Romney is going to be the next president, whether they like him or not. Then it becomes to Iran's advantage to at least hold on to the ground they gained under Obama, and even exaggerate it a bit. Note that the US leaks are of a diplomatic settlement while Iran speaks of "recognition of Iran's nuclear rights", making it sound like there are no preconditions to that.
3. Iran may prefer Romney to Obama on the calculation that under Obama Israel will lose patience and strike first and Romney has credibility with Israel and make Israel hold their plans, and so give them time they need to accomplish their enrichment program. Remember, once Romney is president it is not in his interest to start a war.