![\"PUTIN\"](\"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/PUTIN1.jpg\")
<\/a>B)AFP<\/span><\/div>\nA<\/span>s Russia sped ahead with the annexation of Crimea and the US drew up more sanctions to punish Moscow, American and Russian officials were last week working side by side in Vienna as if unaffected by the unfolding drama of the new cold war.<\/p>\nEmerging from a round of international negotiations with Iran on downsizing its nuclear ambitions, US officials expressed satisfaction that their Russian colleagues had acted constructively.<\/p>\n
Moscow, said a senior US official, had no interest in Iran obtaining a nuclear bomb or in an escalation in tensions in the Gulf. Moscow takes part in the Iran negotiations for its own interests, he noted, not those of the US.<\/p>\n
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Yet, it would be wishful thinking to assume that if the crisis over Ukraine continues to deteriorate it will not seep through Russian policy towards the Middle East and affect Iran, primarily because that is where the US would be hurt most.<\/p>\n
Motivated by fierce nationalism and a deep sense of historic injustice, for which he blames the west, Russian president Vladimir Putin has been lashing out with little apparent regard for the consequences. If cornered, he will be tempted to use all the levers at his disposal to retaliate against western sanctions.<\/p>\n
b\u001cIf you look at this rationally there no reason why Russians would want to undermine the [nuclear] talks in any way butb .b .b .b at this point you canb\u0019t count on him [Putin] making calculations of cost and benefit,b\u001d says Robert Einhorn, a former US negotiator with Iran.<\/p>\n
Despite Russian good behaviour in Vienna, Moscowb\u0019s representatives departed with a warning shot, with a senior official saying that Russia might have to use the nuclear talks b\u001cas an element in the game of raising the stakesb\u001d.<\/p>\n
Fyodor Lukyanov, a foreign policy expert in Moscow, says he expects a tightening of Russian relations with Iran and more intensive supplies of arms to Syria, where Moscow has been propping up the Assad regime.<\/p>\n
b\u001cRussia will see no reason at all to ease US troubles in the Middle East,b\u001d Mr Lukyanov predicts.<\/p>\n
But to what extent could Russia damage western interests? Withdrawing from the Iran nuclear talks would be futile. But Moscow could try to weaken western resolve and embolden Iran.<\/p>\n
This<\/span> is the one card that they [the Russians] have. The S-300 can be a game changer; it would reduce Israelb\u0019s ability to attack Iran<\/span><\/q>– Cliff Kupchan, analyst at Eurasia Group<\/p>\n<\/div>\nExperts are most worried about the potential for new Russian arms sales, in particular the long-range S-300 air defence missile system deal that was cancelled in 2010 under American pressure.<\/p>\n
b\u001cThis is the one card that they [the Russians] have,b\u001d argues Cliff Kupchan, analyst at Eurasia Group, the risk researchers and consultants. b\u001cThe S-300 can be a game changer; it would reduce Israelb\u0019s ability to attack Iran.b\u001d<\/p>\n
Also troubling, but with less impact, are possible Russian moves to undermine the sanctions regime that contributed to Tehranb\u0019s decision to negotiate in the first place.<\/p>\n
Moscow, for example, could give a green light for banks to resume transactions with entities in Tehran, or it could revive mooted trade accords opposed by the US.<\/p>\n
A barter agreement allowing Iran to sell its oil to Russia in exchange for goods and equipment has been rumoured for months.<\/p>\n