Further update on Iranigans

Yesterday I highlighted the importance of Russian President Dmitri Medvedev’s “State of the State” speech to the Russian citizenry. I was anticipating that he was going to give hints to an opening of the Russian economy to Western investment. The speech also needed to be monitored for where Russia stands relative to Iran right now. Fortunately, there were no surprises. The speech did in fact indicate that Russia is undergoing massive economic structural reform right now. Medvedev called for an opening of Russian markets to Western investments. But most importantly the President was mostly mute about foreign policy and there was none of last year’s fire and brimstone, stoke the Russian Bear fires, kind of thing. Whew!

Separately, the U.S. has filed a suit that if successful would allow it to seize and close mosques with demonstrable ties to Iran. This is a very interesting happening and in my mind is an indication of several of things:

1. The U.S. is upping the pressure on Iran. Filing suit to seize mosques in the U.S. doesn’t really have a material impact on Iran, but it does increase the venom between the two nations. It further communicates the U.S. willingness to fight Iran, whether through sanctions or through war.

2. It also says that U.S. confidence is on the rise. To announce something like this strongly suggests that the U.S. is getting support from the Europeans, the Russians and Israel for its pressure strategy.

3. It is also a warning to U.S. based mosques to cut their ties to Iran if they want to keep their doors open.

I would be surprised if this suit by the U.S. is won given the Constitutional guarantee of religious freedom. However, the Obama Administration’s strategy is becoming more and more clear. Cut out the legs from under Iran in hopes that they begin cooperating with regard to their nuclearization.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Jason