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Source: http://www.eurasiareview.com/20102011-turkey-and-iran-the-end-of-the-affair/
Turkey and Iran
(RFE/RL-Eurasia Review) Dorian Jones - Despite the cooling of political relations, Turkish-Iranian trade continues to boom. "Turkey was the biggest factor helping and assisting the Iranian regime to survive [sanctions]," claims Iran expert Mehrdad Emadi of the British-based consultancy firm Betamatrix. "Turkey is facilitating and accommodating the regime in Tehran on so many levels. We know of at least 11 cases where Turkish banks and firms, Turkish shipping companies, on behalf of the regime in Tehran, have been acquiring commodities and technologies that Iran needs." Iran's increasing economic and financial dependence on Turkey means Tehran has limited scope to maneuver against Ankara. "Iran is isolated," says Iran analyst Jamsid Assadi of France's Burgundy School of Business. "Iran needs Turkey much more than they need Iran."