IRAN LOOKING FOR NEW PARTNERS INSTEAD OF RUSSIA?

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.11.2009 19:34 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Fawning before Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei could learn from the Turkish leader balancing his alliances,
British The Guardian writes. According to the newspaper, until
recently, the leadership of the Islamic Republic put their claims
to Russia aside but because of recent manifestations of "disloyalty"
from Russia, the Iranian regime has not only "stopped shying of public
criticism addressed to Kremlin, but engaged to search of new partners
to substituted the Russian.

"The possibility of new sanctions makes the task of finding a reliable
ally particularly relevant, which became more realistic after
Tehran’s refusal to cooperate with the U.S. on the nuclear issue,
" The Guardian writes.

The intensified diplomatic ties between Tehran and Ankara prompt
that Khamenei found understanding in Turkey, whose influence in the
Middle East and throughout the Muslim world is growing, " stated in
the article.

However, reorientation towards Turkey, according to The Guardian,
presents a number of hazards. In particular, this touches the
construction of the Bushehr NPP: Ankara is not able to finish it,
only Russia can do it.

In addition, the Iranian media have recently published information
that in late October, Tehran has concluded a "secret gas deal" with
Turkey on extremely favorable terms.