While rising U.S.-Iran tensions over Tehran¡¯s uranium enrichment jeopardize nuclear talks, three Iranian sources said on Tuesday that the clerical leadership lacks a clear fallback plan if efforts to resolve a decades-long dispute collapse.

With negotiations faltering over clashing red lines, Iran may turn to China and Russia as a ¡°Plan B,¡± the sources said, but with Beijing¡¯s trade war with Washington and Moscow distracted with its war in Ukraine, Tehran¡¯s backup plan appears shaky.

¡°The plan B is to continue the strategy before the start of talks. Iran will avoid escalating tensions, it is ready to defend itself,¡± a senior Iranian official said.