[Jabba the Nutt]

Putin meets Khamenei. Speculation about this meeting has been rampant. Reportedly, Putin memorized a message in Farsi, which he delivered to Khamenei, after ejecting the interpreter, under four eyes, as the Germans say. Since that meeting, the Iranian nuclear negotiator has resigned, Ahmadinejad broke off a trip to Armenia to rush back to Tehran and Olmert added Russia onto his schedule.

Internet Anthropologist suggests that Putin told Khamenei that Russia won't be able to stop sanctions or even military action.

So, what's up?

[americanophile]

I wish I knew. Undoubtedly Putin was happy to increase his regional hegemony by being seen as a bulwark against American militarism, but it may be that Iran has gone too far. Perhaps he coming to his senses. With Putin taking a step back, and France in the camp of the west for a change, Iran may be running out of diplomatic cover. They’ve still got the amoral Chinese to possibly provide them with cover, but they're loathe to do anything that will upset their big self-aggrandizing Olympics next summer. It seems logical that Iran, becoming more isolated, will go for broke - trying to reach full nuclear capability before the West can get its act together. I fear we’re in the long slide toward something very ugly.