Short-sighted dhimmi realpolitik is not solely the province of the West. John VI Cantacuzenes Alert: “Putin vexes US over Iran nuclear power,” by Daniel Dombey and Isabel Gorst in the Financial Times, March 18:
Vladimir Putin, Russia’s prime minister, promised on Thursday that Moscow would help Iran complete a civil nuclear power station by this summer, drawing criticism from Hillary Clinton, US secretary of state.
His remarks highlighted the continuing differences between the two powers over how to contain Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Mrs Clinton was visiting Moscow on a trip partly designed to increase the pressure on Tehran by showing America’s unity with Russia.
But Mr Putin told a meeting held in Volgodonsk, southern Russia, that work to complete the Bushehr plant on Iran’s Gulf coast would soon be complete. “The first block of the Iranian atomic power station must be launched this summer,” he said.
Asked about Mr Putin’s remarks, Mrs Clinton said it “would be premature to go forward with any project at this time, because we want to send an unequivocal message to the Iranians”.
However, she added: “We have consistently said that Iran is entitled to civil nuclear power. It is a nuclear weapons programme that it is not entitled to.”…
And she seems to think that will be an easy distinction to draw and maintain.