Sanction busting – Iran sends funds via Turkey
We have never been great fans of sanctions. They leak, tend to punish the poorer sectors of the population not the government and we believe better results come from engagement not isolation. We have also mocked the West’s attempts to sanction Tehran. It is an ineffective blunt tool of foreign policy has failed to deliver good results. Now in the latest failure of the sanctions, Turkey has sidled closer to Tehran and is helping them to send up to $10 million a day into the global financial system effectively negating the attempts of the West to lock down Iran’s access.
Turkey is miffed at the West for a few reasons. It was offended by the failure to gain EU membership and reacted by moving closer to the Muslim world. Turkey was also angered by Israel behavior against the Gaza in Operation Cast Lead cancelling joint military exercises with Israel as a result. The US habitual failure to censure Israel for its misbehavior irked Turkey more. All of this has seen the relationship between Tehran and Ankara grow closer and closer to the point where it is sure to form an agenda item on Obama’s visit there
Sphere: Related ContentRecep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish prime minister, has introduced a “good neighbours” foreign policy that has tilted the axis of Ankara’;s diplomacy in the direction of Iran, Russia and bordering states.
Turkish frustration with a series of setbacks for its bid to join the European Union triggered a search for a foreign policy that reflect its historical interests in the Middle East, Caucasus and Islamic world.
Foreign intelligence officials sounded an alarm over Turkish manoeuvring closer to Iran, which has undermined the international campaign to isolate the Islamic regime. In particular it has allowed key members of the Islamic regime to move large sums of money – up to $10 million per day – into the global financial system.
Turkey has become a prized outlet for Iranian transactions since a tight regime of sanctions cut off Iranian banks from international finance.
Turkey was one of a handful of countries that refused to support a reprimand imposed on Iran over its failure to declare secret nuclear facility last month. Iranian activists have complained that the regime's agents can operate with impunity in a country that was once a safe haven for those fleeing persecution.
Turkey’s moves towards Iran concerning United States – Telegraph
