Russia, Turkey and Iran Meet, Posing Test for U.S. Diplomacy

[Purveyor]

Source: NYTIMES

ISTANBUL — Leaders of Russia, Turkey and Iran convened at a security summit meeting in Istanbul on Tuesday in a display of regional power that appeared to be calculated to test the United States just days before a scheduled American-backed debate in the United Nations Security Council on imposing tighter sanctions over Iran’s nuclear program.

In remarks at the gathering of regional leaders, the third of its kind dedicated to increasing cooperation and security in Asia, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran said a nuclear agreement brokered by Turkey and Brazil last month was a one-time opportunity and other countries had called to express their support for it.

“We’ve seen a lot of support from the international arena,” he said, according to the Turkey’s official Anatolian News Agency. “This is the voice of everyone’s heart.” Mr. Ahmadinejad also maintained a defiant posture toward the United States.

“If the U.S. and its allies think they could hold the stick of sanctions and then sit and negotiate with us, they are seriously mistaken,” he told a news conference, according to Iran’s state-run Press TV satellite broadcaster. European and American officials say the vote on sanctions could come as early as Wednesday.

Mr. Ahmadinejad said Iran would not repeat its recent offer to send part of its stockpile out of Iran for enrichment. The accord, supported by Brazil and Turkey, was designed to break the deadlock over its nuclear program, according to Iran.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/09/world/09iran.html

[The Stranger]

1. The U.S. and Israel have isolated themselves from the rest of the world.

Lost in a Right Wing media-based coup d'etat, there's no one steering the ship.

[Wizard777]

2. We had lock on that vote. Israel screws us AGAIN!

:grr:

Maybe it's for the best? Russia is now in a great position to say we'll back the sanction on Iran if you don't veto a resolution calling for Israel to sign and ratify the NPT or face sanctions.

[Purveyor]

3. Odd how that seems to always happen, "just in the nick of time", now isn't it. eom

[Prometheus Bound]

4. "But the agreement infuriated the United States" (who wants sanctions no matter what)

Why?

[yava]

5. Prometheus Bound, in my view, there will still be a sanction vote

But the end result is that Russia depends on Iran's Mullahs' good will concerning Chechnia and Ingushetia or Afghanistan, Tajikstan etc.
So they are condemned to make a deal.
Russia wilkl sign in order to keep US off its activism on Georgia etc but then they will cheat and supply Iran at high price through the Caspian.
In the mean time, Iranians get poorer and Israel gets more isolated, I think.
And above all, China will OWN Iran!

[Prometheus Bound]

6. Yes, I believe there will be a vote and they will get their additional sanctions.

But it's still meaningless. They are adding only one name to the sanctions list and a few more companies, including 2 banks, since China has said they'll vote for it only if it has no effect on the Iranian people. So they'll get their vote, but it won't make a whit of difference to Iran practically.

It will have some propaganda value though.