Tehran exploits US-Russian tensions

Iran could emerge as a big winner, at least in the short term, from the rapidly escalating tensions between the United States and Russia over Moscow’s intervention in Georgia, according to analysts here.

Whatever waning chances remained of a US military attack on Iran before President George W Bush leaves office next January have all but vanished, given the still-uncertain outcome of the Georgia crisis, according to most of these observers.
“If the BTC and Georgia won’t be a reliable source of energy, then Iran will absolutely step up to the plate,” according to Professor William Beeman, an Iran expert at the University of Minnesota. “You want gas? We’ll sell you gas, will likely be their position,” he added, noting that Switzerland signed a 25-year, US$42 billion gas supply and pipeline deal with Tehran last March over strong US objections. “I think the Swiss are a very good bellwether for the rest of Europe on this.”

While Iran has alienated some major European energy companies – most recently France’s Total – by demanding tough terms, it might “see the present crisis as an opportunity to go back to European colleagues and say, ‘Let’s take another look at this’,” said Sick. “It gives them some more leverage by going to the West and saying ‘You’re shooting yourselves in the foot here. When are you going to come to your senses’?”

Asia Times