World Press on Iran, Turkey and the Caucasus (December 1, 2011)

The Washington Post published an article analysing the recent events in Iran headlined 'Iran faces increased isolation after attack on British Embassy'. Iran sank into deeper isolation from the West on Wednesday, with Britain pulling out all of its diplomats and U.S. officials pushing for the European Union to take a tough line against Tehran during a crucial meeting planned for Thursday. The author suggests that these moves come after a well-organized attack by Iranian hard-liners Tuesday on two British diplomatic compounds in Tehran, including the embassy. The attack, which appeared to have official approval, set off a series of retaliatory moves in which Britain on Wednesday ordered the closure of its heavily damaged embassy within 48 hours. Despite the damage to the British sites, some U.S. and European officials consider the exodus of diplomats as an encouraging sign. More than ever, they said, Iran is finding itself with few allies and friends — particularly in the developed world but also among countries traditionally friendly with Iran. Statements by Russia and China denouncing the embassy attack were viewed on Wednesday with particular satisfaction.

The Guardian quoted European diplomats and Iran analysts on the matter who said that the storming of the British embassy in Tehran revealed the role of a growing, radical actor in Iranian foreign policy: the Quds Force. The author of the article suggested that Quds Force leader is developing a cult status: some see Qassem Suleimani as an icon as he is taking on 'the enemy' directly. The force is the external operations wing of Iran's Revolutionary Guard corps (IRGC), one of the regime's most powerful institutions, with extensive economic and financial interests across the country. Some of the rioters at the embassy on Tuesday held aloft pictures of the Quds Force commander, Qassem Suleimani, around whom a personality cult is developing. There are claims that a known Quds commander was in the crowd. In October, the US accused Suleimani and the Quds Force of being behind a plot to blow up the Saudi ambassador in Washington when he was dining in his favourite restaurant. If true, and many observers cannot believe that a commander as senior as Suleimani could be so reckless, it would be a sign that the Quds Force is seeking to expand its operations to confront Iran's two greatest enemies, the US and Britain, directly.

The New York Times reported that Turkey took steps on Wednesday to freeze the Syrian government’s financial assets, impose a travel ban on senior Syrian officials and cut off transactions with the country’s central bank, sharply escalating international pressure on Damascus in response to its continuing violence against civilians. The latest measures, Turkish officials said, were enacted in concert with the Arab League. According to the article's  author, the intensification of pressure by Turkey against Syria is part of a radical about-face in relations between the two countries, as Turkey seeks to assert its leadership in the Muslim world.