As the United States and Iraq struggle to reach a firm agreement over the presence of U.S. troops in Iraq beyond 2011, there are signs that the Iranian regime is working in the shadows to pave the way for a complete U.S. withdrawal and Iranian domination of this fledgling democracy.

U.S. undersecretary for political affairs, William Burns, attended a recent meeting in Geneva between EU Secretary General Javier Solana and Irans chief nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili. This decision was the first direct and official contact between the United States and Iran after nearly three decades of troubled relations. The decision to send Burns to the talks was a wise and courageous one, despite his nominal role as an observer.

In March 2009, Russia will deploy modern S-300 long-range anti-aircraft missiles in Iran. By June 2009 they will become fully operational, as Iranian teams finish training provided by their Russian instructors, a high-level Russian source who requested anonymity told the Middle East Times.

LONDON -- The Iranian regime raised the stakes over its nuclear standoff with the West last week as it test fired medium- and long-range missiles while a senior aide to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei threatened that Tehran would "set fire" to Israel and coalition vessels in the Gulf if attacked.