November 18, 2009 - 19:34 AMT
Iran looking for new partners instead of Russia?
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.