These acts of sanctions against Iran by the EU and also Canada are becoming more and more bizarre and cannot lead to anything more than hostile feelings by the people of Iran themselves against the countries that are responsible. Maybe that is what the governments of these countries want. Diplomacy seems to have disappeared and an Alice in Wonderland scenario erupting where madness and insanity rule the day. It is perfectly obvious certain countries in the world are uncomfortable with the idea that Iran is a stable and sober regional power in an area of instability created by the very people who are pushing the sanctions against them based on an improbability. It is a worrying thought that one of the countries that always opposed sanctions, Russia, has decided to come on board and now agrees to sanctions. At the same time it is cosying up to the EU for a future economic relationship. At the same time yielding to accept an outdated and dangerous military alliance called NATO. If they were supposed friends of Iran at one point and out of the blue, like some Jekyl and Hyde character, turn on them, for no apparent reason, then how can citizens of the EU trust any social, political and economic relationship with Russia. Are they going to turn on the EU in the same way at some future date due to an improbability. Russia possesses nuclear weapons and vows to use them. Iran possesses no nuclear weapons has no desire to and opposes such weapons. NATO troops are responsible for the continuing deaths of Iraqi children from their use of depleted Uranium in shells that were used in an illegal war in Iraq, and deny their responsibility. Which of these nations should be trusted where nuclear technology is involved? In my view it is Iran.

The president Of Iran has made a bad mistake in attacking the Russian president. He has failed to distinguish between the different objectives of the governments involved. The EU states are supporting sanctions for two reasons. Firstly because of the belief that EU states will be in range of Iranian missiles long before the USA is. The history of Europe is littered with unstable states who attempt to correct domestic instabilities through wars. How stable does the Iranian regime appear? The second reason is to support the government of the USA. But this gains no traction without the bellicose threats issuing from Iran. Russia is not changing sides but supporting the European countries. In line with the Russian presidents assertion that Russia was a European country. As for the USA they are opposed root and branch to the regime in Iran and cannot be won over. American hegemony in the Middle East is threatened by the Iranian regime. 133101

@ Babeouf. The EU does not support sanctions against Iran because of an improbable missile attack against them from Iranian soil. Iranian missiles do not have the capability of hitting EU countries. Their support is based on the need of the US economically on the EU at this moment. The trade off is the addition of Germany being given a vote on the UN Security council. The 5 + 1. Neither do Iranian missiles have the capability of reaching the USA. The present history of Europe is one of stability since the founding of the Common Market leading to the EU. Europe has enjoyed peace for 65 years and the ideology of war faded long ago. The opposite exists in the US. Both the EU and USA see and are aware that in an area of instability Iran is a stable country, with a working democracy. Even though its system is run on the ideology of a "Theocracy". This is not in the best interests of the USA and the EU is following meekly, for the moment. The only bellicose threats are coming from the USA, Iran just responds with an answer and the USA does not like what it hears. Russia has realized that its best interests lay with the EU economically and politically, since the EU has no real internal or external conflicts. But this comes with a price tag, the price tag are the EU,s demands politically. Russia needs good relations in the area of its soft underbelly. The US will never give a hand of friendship to Iran, they need to control it. Russia also needs friendly relations with the US, because both possess the majority of the worlds nuclear weapons and needs the durability of a signed treaty against further proliferation. Many find Russia's act of support for sanctions bewildering, just like China's. Both have one thing in common, they are deeply involved now in the US. Russia, its treaty, China, to safeguard its financial interests. Medvedev attacked the Iranian stand with his remarks about Iran making nuclear weapons. Ahmadinijad just responded. That is politics.

This is a great opportunity for Iran to take control of its oil an gas industry into her hands. With the Iranian ingeuity there will be no barrier. Iran and Russia are both the energy source for EU, technically this sets the priority of who should bond with who.

@starlight July 27, 2010, 14:14 "The EU does not support sanctions against Iran because of an improbable missile attack against them from Iranian soil. Iranian missiles do not have the capability of hitting EU countries." This is incorrect: the Iranian Shahab-3 missile can hit all of Cyprus, some Greek islands and parts of Bulgaria and Romania. These missiles are a derivative of a North Korean missile and about 300 are believed to be deployed within Iran.

Zippy July 27, 2010, 14:58 "This is a great opportunity for Iran to take control of its oil and gas industry into her hands." They could start by building some oil refining capacity before building nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons. Despite their huge crude oil output, Iran is in the absurd position of having to import all their petroleum fuel requirements from their neighbours, at some considerable cost simply because they have no oil refineries. This situation has arisen during the decades in which the Iranian government have had full control over their petrochemical industries.