The G-8 meeting is supposed to send a clear signal to Tehran: stop enriching uranium or else - the else being UN-imposed sanctions. Unfortunately, the one message -- aside from the meeting's muddled response to Iran's proxy war against Israel -- the Iranian regime has apparently taken from the summit so far is that it expects Russia (and China) to cover its back on the Security Council. According the Islamic Republic News Agency, Tehran "expects Russia and China to defend its inalienable nuclear rights…. Asked about remark by Russian President Vladimir Putin in a joint press conference with his US counterpart George W Bush Saturday on Iran's nuclear case, he [the foreign ministry spokesman] added,
‘Putin's remark should be regarded as comprehensive. He announced Russia does not agree to imposition of sanctions against Iran.'"