World Press on Iran, Turkey and the Caucasus (December 14, 2011)

The Washington Post reported that Iran’s oil minister says his Saudi counterpart has pledged not to up crude production to replace Iranian oil in case sanctions impact Tehran’s ability to sell its petroleum. Rostam Ghasemi says Saudi oil minister Ali Naimi “rejects” replacing Iranian crude if Tehran faces oil sanctions over its refusal to stop activities that could be used to make nuclear arms. The United States is reportedly seeking Saudi assurances that they are ready to make up for Iranian crude lost from the market should increased international sanctions on Iran impact its oil exports. Ghasemi said Wednesday he spoke to Naimi Tuesday. He talked to reporters just minutes ahead of an OPEC meeting expected to keep oil sales at the present level of around 30 million barrels a day.

The same agency reported that Iran may move its uranium enrichment facilities to safer locations if this becomes necessary, a senior military commander said Wednesday, reflecting Iran’s worries about a possible military strike against the sites at the center of Tehran’s standoff with the West. Both the U.S. and Israel have not ruled out a military option against Iran’s controversial nuclear program, which the West suspects is aimed at making atomic weapons. Iran denies the charge, saying the program is geared toward generating electricity and producing medical radioisotopes needed to treat cancer patients. Iran’s main uranium enrichment site in Natanz in central Iran is built partly underground while the long-secret Fordo facility was built deep inside a mountain as a precaution from aerial attacks.

The New York Times published the article headlined “Turkish Border Businesses Miss the Syrian Neighbors.” It says that Only a year ago, Turkey and Syria were close allies, as Turkey’s governing Muslim-inspired Justice and Development Party sought to expand the country’s economic influence and grow into a regional power. Their 500-mile border is Turkey’s longest; during the Ottoman Empire, Gaziantep (pronounced gahz-ee-AHN-tep) was part of Aleppo Province. For its part, Syria remains suffused with Turkish influence, from Ottoman architecture to the continuing popularity of Turkish soap operas. Trade between the two countries had more than tripled since 2006, to $2.5 billion in 2010. Turkish officials tried for months to persuade President Bashar al-Assad to halt the violent crackdown against a civilian uprising that began in March, but finally, and emphatically, turned against the Syrian government.

“Tehran rebuffs US’ demands” is an article published by the Turkish information agency Hurriyet Daily News. It says that The Obama administration has delivered a formal request to Iran for the return of a U.S. surveillance drone captured by Iranian armed forces, but Iran and its media responded with derision.  Iranian Fars news agency published a news report with the headline “Obama Begs Iran to Give Him Back His Toy Plane.” “U.S. President Obama is hoping that the Iranian government is in a Christmas mood because he has asked Tehran to send him his Christmas present back,” the report said.  Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman said Obama should apologize for sending an unmanned spy plane rather than asking for it back after it was seized. “It seems that [Obama] has forgotten that our airspace was violated, a spying operation conducted and international law trampled,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast.