A Rift Between Russia & Iran?

(Denver, Colorado) -- "Iran expects the United States to launch a military strike on 'at least two countries" in the Middle East in the next three months, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told state-run Press TV," reports Reuters. Ahmadinejad's warning comes amidst several interesting developments in the region -- surprisingly tough new economic sanctions imposed on Iran by the European Union and Canada, and a curious rift developing between Russia and Iran.

Moscow and Tehran have been increasingly close allies in recent years. But in recent weeks:

* Russia voted for new U.N. sanctions on Iran
* Russia criticized Iran for moving towards nuclear weapons
* Russia now says it will not deliver S-300 missiles to Iran (after saying just a few weeks agothat it would).

Furthermore, the BBC reports that "an additional factor that may further influence the decision-making in Moscow is Saudi Arabia's offer to buy more than $2 billion worth of Russian weapons (helicopters, armour, anti-aircraft missiles) on condition that Russia does not sell Iran S-300 missiles, and stops supporting it [Iran] in the UN."

NOTE: More details and links to key stories from the epicenter are posted on the weblog, http://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com.

Visit Joel's weblog.