Washington openly justifies both pipelines on political grounds. Although political considerations will be a critical factor in determining which routes are utilized for these proposed pipelines, the cost of building them will remain an important factor in their construction and location. Given the pace at which Iran's neighbor Azerbaijan is stepping up its military and economic cooperation with the West, it is not surprising that Iranian conservatives are alarmed. But Azerbaijan's appeal to NATO may offer Iranian conservatives a new lever in their domestic political feud. While Khatami touts the economic promise carried by improved relations with the West, not to mention the social and cultural benefits of moderation, conservatives can easily note that the West also presents a distinct and growing military threat.
Turkey lies to the west of Iran.
Azerbaijan's appeal to NATO smacks of the encirclement of Iran. So, while the Iranian public may be rejecting the strict social code and political isolation of the ''good old days'' of Ayatollah Khomeini, Iran's conservatives can now raise a less ideological argument against opening to the West - national security.