Russia flits from Tehran to Washington
02 July 2009 5:12 pm by spincitysd
http://tiny.cc/FtC9W
“it appears the idea of a Russian-Iranian axis, popular in certain circles at the end of Boris Yeltsin’s time in the late 1990s to the beginning of the Putin era, is passe. It shows that the relationship with Iran is pragmatic, opportunistic – and fleeting. ”
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Russia appears to be softening towards the US while adopting a more reserved approach to Iran. Moscow has watched the US’s troubles in the Middle East and its overall geopolitical decline with some concern.
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The Russian elite understands that the US’s global departure could well expose Russia to the not very friendly, or, at least, unpredictable, Muslim world.
In this situation, Moscow would rather cooperate with the US than with Iran, which, in the long run, might create even more problems than the US. This could have a direct impact on the international pressure on Iran over its uranium-enrichment program, which many believe is not for peaceful purposes. This could result in more sanctions on Tehran in addition to the two rounds imposed by the United Nations and the unilateral ones slapped on by the US.
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Give the article a read especially the conclusion that ask at what cost does the U.S. strip Moscow from Tehran ’s embrace
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When given a choice, US or Iran, it’s a no brainer. Lesson: nationalistic self interest is the foundation motivator.
It also implies that Russia is pleased by the indications of US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates that America might delay implementing an anti-missile shield in Eastern Europe and that there is no viable US support of Ukraine in its confrontation with Russia over gas supplies.
Love these foreign policy diaries!!!