AS VLADIMIR Putin embarks on a historic visit to Iran, the first by a Russian head of state in more than half a century, expectations are high. The Russian leader is seeking to effect an otherwise unlikely thaw in the frozen ties between Iran and the West.
This visit is not directly related to Iran’s nuclear crisis; Putin’s main itinerary being participation in the Caspian Sea heads of state summit. Yet, under the circumstances, world attention will be riveted on the nuclear issue. Russia is an inseparable link in the West’s engagement with Iran. Russia has trade and technological ties with Iran, and is involved in the building of a nuclear reactor in the Middle Eastern country.
No other European nation has been backing Iran as much as Russia. Moscow’s voice and veto power have been of help to Teheran in withstanding pressure from the US and the West.
The shrewd politician that he is, Putin knows where to hatch his eggs. His increasing clout in European affairs cannot be overlooked either; a reason why, before his Iran visit, Putin has had meetings with France’s Nicholas Sarkozy and Germany’s Angela Merkel. These meetings apparently helped prepare the ground for Putin’s discussions on the nuclear issue in Teheran.
One might not expect a unified European stand over a crisis like the Iranian one; yet, clearly, opinion across the continent is heavily loaded in favour of a negotiated settlement of the Iranian crisis as against Iraq-like misadventures.
As he heads for Iran, Putin is clear in his mind that Iran must be given more time to facilitate a settlement of the nuclear issue. He has rightly cited the example of North Korea, that till a few months ago was a hard nut to crack, but is now cozying up to the West. That was the result of sustained pressure and belated adoption of a positive attitude by the US. When war cries slowed down, peace prospects brightened.
The positive turn in North Korea is what gives hope for a similar change in respect of Iran. It has robbed the US of its moral high ground for a military assault on Iran. When talks can make the impossible possible, why a war? Also, the olive branch that the US has extended to Kim Jong Il has Bush eating his own words, uttered five years ago, when he invoked the «axis of the evil» theory. Now, over to Putin.
"Khaleej Times"
