[Tell It Right]

IMHO, the number one Middle Eastern friend for Russia is Turkey. A pipeline through Turkey could supply natural gas to Europe from Israel, etc. As long as Turkey doesn't allow that, Russia has huge control over Europe. I believe all of the talk between Russia and Iran is smoke and mirrors so people don't pay attention to the real linchpin of Russian control over Europe, which is Turkey.

It always comes down to energy.

[ETCM]

IMHO, the number one Middle Eastern friend for Russia is Turkey. A pipeline through Turkey could supply natural gas to Europe from Israel, etc. As long as Turkey doesn't allow that, Russia has huge control over Europe.

No, Turkey WANTS pipelines to Qatar's (and Iran's) gas, and was a partner in the proposed Qatar-Turkey pipeline. The proposed path was through Syria. Assad, at Putin's "request" blocked the deal. Iran's exports have been similarly limited. There is a pipeline from Iran to Turkey but it is only for a small fraction of Turkey's domestic use. And Turkey has built pipelines to Baku. If Iran and/or Qatar agree to build pipelines through Turkey, they could completely displace Russian gas in the European market. It would bring significant profit in transit fees as well as influence in both the Middle East and Europe. Oil pipelines too. That is what Turkey wants. It might even give them the leverage they need to get into the EU.

Iran has massive gas reserves, yet exports very little. If Russia no longer holds them back from the European market, their economy could boom