True any movement the Russians make on the Iranian issue will be based on the West making concessions to Russia, I'm sure the Russians will extract maximum value from any pressure they put on Iran.
The problem at the moment for the US is that Iran has two powerful states protecting it in the diplomatic arena. They are protecting it because they have a profitable relationship with Iran. The US has a shocking lack of options in dealing with Iran, and due to there lack of diplomatic and economic ties, no leverage. The Europeans do have leverage over Iran and the ability to hurt it economicly, but that is all, they will not take the military route.
If America wants to end this short of war they have to give the Russian (and chinese) what they want, which will probley involve pulling out of central asia, and ending the westword expansion of NATO.
Whatever happens it's going to be an interesting few years.
