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Turkey and Iran / U.S.-approved relations By Zvi Bar'el The welcome for Iran's president in Istanbul today may have been warmed by yesterday's report in Haaretz that Washington is opposed to an Israeli attack on Iran and declines to supply Israel the military support it seeks. The U.S. may retain a military option, but Washington seems more amenable than ever to the type of diplomatic initiative Turkey is poised to propose in the next two days. Advertisement Turkey, which objects to sanctions against Iran, intends to sign an agreement to develop gas fields in Iran and a gas pipeline from Iran at the cost of some $600 million. Together with India, Pakistan, China and Russia, Turkey serves as a strategic front for Iran that could foil sanctions on the Islamic republic. Turkey, a NATO member and Israel's strategic ally, is interested in building its relations with Iran with Washington's approval and in coordination with the European Union. Turkey's policy vis-a-vis Iran has two basic principles. It supports Iran's plan to develop peaceful nuclear technology and objects to the production of nuclear weapons. This is in keeping with with the perks the United Nations Security Council members and Germany had offered Iran. Iran's response was vague and unsatisfactory. Europe has for some time wanted to reduce its dependency on Russian oil and gas, and wants to even more after Russia's brutal assault on Georgia this week. It wants another pipeline to run from the Caspian sea to Iran and on to Europe via Turkey. Washington, too, will need Iran's blessing for any future cooperation with Iraq that would send its troops home. Washington's timetable is pressing, hence its nonchalant attitude to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit to Turkey. Israel's minor mutterings, compared to its outcry over Swiss and German agreements with Tehran, illustrate that it, too, knows its vital relations with Turkey require some quiet. Israel understands that diplomacy can be effective, especially as Turkey is also the arbitrator between Israel and Syria. Turkey alone cannot prevent Iran's continued uranium enrichment, nor does it intend to. But it can advance an American-Iranian dialogue and Washington has given Ankara a go-ahead to do so, Turkish sources said. The U.S. is also considering opening a special interests office in Tehran. Now Turkey is just hoping Ahmadinejad will not embarrass his hosts by repeating his threats to destroy Israel. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Safe haven reached 200 fleeing Georgia after the outbreak of hostilities arrive at Israel's Ben-Gurion Airport. Man dies of 'broken heart' Severely disabled man dies of a heart attack after his long-term girlfriend was arrested by Immigration Police.

Read & React U.S. puts the brakes on Israeli plan for strike against Iran Responses: 337 Settlers vow to fight PM's plan to pull out of West Bank Responses: 71 Uzi Benziman: The ultra-Orthodox are taking over Jerusalem Responses: 38 Report: Syria taking preventative steps, fearing Israeli strike Responses: 39 Israeli journalist seriously hurt in Georgia returns home for treatment Responses: 29 More Headlines 02:41 Georgia president denies Israel halted military aid 02:48 Israel thought Georgia, Russia headed for war back in 2007 23:09 Moscow agrees to stick to truce, as Rice threatens Russian isolation 23:55 Lebanon and Syria agree to establish full diplomatic ties 23:42 Report: Fearing Israeli strike, Syria taking preventative steps 22:14 Ahmadinejad: West must quit support of dying Israeli regime 17:13 Prof. charged with incitement to violence for comments on Gay Pride parade 01:47 Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish buried in Ramallah with highest honors 08:14 Haaretz newsletter: All the news from Israel direct to your inbox 01:42 VIDEO / Israeli swimmer Gal Nevo reaches Olympic 200m medley semifinals 20:06 U.S. puts brakes on Israeli plan for attack on Iran nuclear facilities 21:04 Police: Huge drop reported in pirate radio interference at B-G Airport 19:17 Israel gives U.S. green light to supply PA police with flak jackets 17:57 IDF probe clears tank crew in death of Gaza journalist last April 22:03 Man 'dies of broken heart' after cops nab illegal immigrant girlfriend Previous Editions Select Day 13 aug 12 aug 11 aug 10 aug 08 aug 07 aug 06 aug 05 aug 04 aug 03 aug 01 aug 31 jul

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