It abuts Iraq, Syria, Iran and the Caucasus; it has a big army (the second-biggest in NATO); in an era of energy insecurity its network of oil and gas pipelines is increasingly important.

它同伊拉克、叙利亚、伊朗以及高加索地区相毗邻；并拥有较大规模的武装力量(在北约中位列第二)；在一个缺乏能源安全感的时代，该国的油气管道网络也就日益重要。

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Shaul Mofaz, an Israeli parliamentarian and former army chief of staff, says a radical axis of Iran,Syria, Hezbollah and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza are trying to destabilize the Middle East.

VOA: standard.2009.11.04

ISTANBUL, Turkey (CNN) -- The chief of Turkey's army said Thursday that Iran and Turkey are coordinating efforts against Kurdish militants, including the sharing of intelligence.

CNN: Iran, Turkey co-ordinate against Kurds

With Iran's vast army of youngsters facing political and economic dead-ends, even hardliners recognise the need for a modest degree of tolerance in social matters.

ECONOMIST: The collapsing of Iranian reform

After all, these are the same leaders who brought about Israel's defeat in Lebanon in last summer's war at the hands of Iran's Hizbullah proxy army.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Condi's embrace of jihadist 'peace'