China begins to turn against Iran

[dead0man]

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[Landslide Lyndon]

Diplomacy is for wimps like Obama. Bring back W. and let's bomb, bomb, bomb Iran.

[Stranger in a strange land]

China, a large importer of oil, is probably tired of Iran's antics and their upward pressure on oil prices.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

More like China doesn't want to risk its oil supply coming from a crazy country.  The last thing China needs is an oil shock, so reducing its consumption of Iranian oil makes sense.

[RodPresident]

While this, Russia's czar Putin wants expensive oil to sell.

[dead0man]

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[2952-0-0]

Isn't in Putin's interest for a controllable amount of tension to exist in the Middle East, to keep oil prices up?

[Silent Hunter]

Isn't in Putin's interest for a controllable amount of tension to exist in the Middle East, to keep oil prices up?

Stability is probably better in the long term - Russians buy oil too.

[dead0man]

....and they sell a lot of weapons.

[Vosem]

If an invasion of Iran really is in the cards, Russia might want to ally herself to the US -- strike from the north, perhaps carve out a sphere of influence.

[2952-0-0]

If an invasion of Iran really is in the cards, Russia might want to ally herself to the US -- strike from the north, perhaps carve out a sphere of influence.

A land invasion of Iran would be far, far more stupid and difficult than Iraq. In fact, any such attempt will, and *will* lead to the sitting POTUS' impeachment even from his own party.

[Beet]

They've shifted more explicitly anti-Iran today.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/06/china-iran-nuclear-idUSL4E8E60YO20120306

(Reuters) - Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Tuesday repeated a warning that Beijing is opposed to Iran possessing nuclear weapons, but defended Tehran's right to peaceful nuclear power.

Yang, speaking at a news conference held as part of China's annual parliamentary session, reiterated that China opposed unilateral sanctions on Iran, against a backdrop of ratcheting international tensions over Tehran's nuclear activities.

Yang's comments come a day after the United Nations' nuclear watchdog's chief said he has "serious concerns" about possible military dimensions to Tehran's atomic activities, and after U.S. President Barack Obama left open the possibility of military action if Iran builds a nuclear weapon.

Although Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao warned Tehran in January against any effort to acquire nuclear weapons, Beijing has generally been reticent about publicly warning Iran or even firmly suggesting that Tehran might want to develop the means to develop nuclear weapons.