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President Barack Obama on October 1 gave Iran two weeks to open its hitherto secret nuclear facility at Qom to inspection. Iran eventually agreed to allow officials from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to visit the site on Oct. 25. That 10-day gap between what Obama demanded and what Iran was willing to concede symbolizes the looming dilemma for the Administration in the Iran nuclear diplomacy — even if a solution is achieved, it's unlikely to be the solution that the West has been demanding.

An air of gloomy skepticism descended on Washington in the days after the Geneva meeting, with many suggesting that Iran was simply playing for time and not with open cards. The deeper reality, though, is that even if Iran cooperates, it won't necessarily...