Iran expands ties with many states despite 'axis' tag

Washington Times ^ | 3/17/02 | David R. Sands

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Iran's charter membership in President Bush's "axis of evil" hasn't prevented Tehran from improving its relations with a variety of states, including longtime regional rivals and close U.S. allies in Europe and Asia.

While North Korea and Iraq face diplomatic isolation, Iran has managed to expand security and commercial ties with its Arab neighbors, the European Union, Russia, China and several Central Asian states.

[Free the USA]

Check the Bump List folders for articles related to and descriptions of the above topic(s) or for other topics of interest.

[Orion78]

Iran has managed to expand security and commercial ties with its Arab neighbors, the European Union, Russia, China and several Central Asian states.

---

"The second upgraded strategy involves the use of the new 'independent' Muslim states in the CIS to establish and develop economic and political cooperation with the fundamentalists in Iran and elsewhere in the Muslim world. According to this assessment the much-advertised feud between the Armenians and the Azerbaijanis of Turkish descent in Nagorno-Karabakh may be a tactical ploy to involve Turkey, Iran and other Muslim countries in support of eventual alliance with Azerbaijan and other Central Asian Muslim states in the CIS. This strategy takes into account the growing power of the fundamentalists and the possibility of gaining control over substantial oil reserves"