European interest for the Caspian energy resources never fades. Oil and gas transit and transit security also remain issues of no smaller importance. Accordingly, European politicians pay the most part of their attention to diversification of the routes, which is actually reduced to constructing new pipeline mains roundabout Russia. The most important and the most debated project is still the Nabucco gas pipeline, championed by the EU and the USA.

However, funding troubles and, moreover — the lack of “blue fuel” suppliers — have left the project hanging in the air for the last years. Turkey has recently delivered yet another blow against NABUCCO. Let me remind you that at the end of the last year Russia and Turkey have reached a final agreement regarding Turkish consent for construction of the South Stream gas pipeline at the Black Sea waters.

TEHRAN, March 14 (MNA) – In a decree issued on Wednesday, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei appointed the members of the Expediency Council for a new five-year term.

In the new decree Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani was reappointed the chairman of the Expediency Council.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has called on officials to pursue the policy of using oil as a source for further economic progress of the country.

“Based on the development plan, oil must stop being used as source of income and for funding the country’s budget and instead become a source for the progress and economic might of the country and authorities must pursue this policy ...with determination,” said the Leader.

Turkish-Iranian relationship improved in 2002, when the Justice and Development Party (JDP) came to power. In spite of dogmatic discords, neighbors used to upkeep decent relationship — and still do, in fact — although it could have hardly been dubbed friendly. This is mostly because both countries keep trying on the role of a regional leader.

“No problems with neighbors” policy that Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Davutoğlu had professed, failed — eventually Turkey faced problems with each of its neighbors including Iran. Devoid of its oil and gas Turkey is to go through some tough times. It only takes to say that Iran supplies 30% of Turkish oil demands and 20% of its gas demands. It is not easy to negotiate with Tehran on equal grounds in a situation like that. According to Taner Yıldız, Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Turkey is way more dependent upon the Iranian oil supplies than Europe, which is why it is not going to join the Western embargo for the oil supplies.

Compiled By: Firouzeh Mirrazavi

Deputy Editor of Iran Review

Interview with Hassan Beheshtipour

Expert on Russia and Central Asia Affairs

Presidents of Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan Armeniа and Iraq on international celebration of the Novruz.

Jnan-holl, Tegeran, Iran