Russian politics wrote the book on playing both sides for maximum gain.
"Russian politics wrote the book on playing both sides for maximum gain."
True enough. Putin must still be sore over loosing Saddam, I can't imagine he is going to let go of Iran that easily. He is going to need/demand something to replace his investment.
Putin is the world's energy Czar now, he is to hold the next G-8 Summit and he has said it is about energy security.