Our "friends" the Russians

The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) has posted a report on Russian military exercises held last month in the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan (emphasis mine), as described by the Iranian website Baztab, which is "affiliated with Expediency Council Secretary and former Revolutionary Guards commander Mohsen Rezai":

"The maneuver, called 'RUBEZH 2006,' [which included] 2,500 troops from the armed forces of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, was held last week (August 24-29) in the port of Aqtau, Kazakhstan]... on the basis of the 'Collective Security Treaty' [CST]. Uzbekistan participated as an observer in this exercise; Belarus and Armenia did not take part in it.

"The maneuver was purportedly intended train [the forces] in combating terrorism, but was in fact a kind of military preparation [intended] to provide an answer to America's military threats in the region against Iran... Some believe that the maneuver, which was planned by the Russian military's joint chiefs of staff, was an exercise in preparedness for frontal confrontation in a possible American war against Iran in the region of southern Eurasia and in the Caspian Sea region.

Is this wishful thinking on the part of the Iranians, or would Russia actually commit military forces to defend Iran in the event that the U.S. decides to launch a strike against Iran's nuclear program?

Given how unhelpful Vladimir Putin has been in dealing with Iran on this issue, one cannot dismiss the possiblity outright.