“In 2004 Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan had told Iran’s Khatami that Iran must remove its barriers isolating itself from the world. “When it becomes a full EU member, Turkey will become Iran’s gate to the Western world,” Erdogan said. Iran was seeking to expand in the region and Turkey was willing to be a conduit. We see a continuation of this Turkish opening to Iran with the Sunday announcement by Erdogan that he will visit Iran in the wake of Kerry’s deal.”

“According to a confidential cable from the US Embassy in Damascus on February 27, 2009, Syria’s Bashar Assad met with John Kerry, who broached the issue of Iran’s nuclear program. “Assad responded by saying there should be a mechanism for monitoring Iran’s nuclear activities; states do not operate on trust.” This is Bashar Assad, Iran’s closest ally today, telling the Americans, “Do not trust them…states do not operate on trust.” ” Continue reading →