by Tyler Durden

Given the Trump administration's shift from a military campaign against Iran to primarily one that seeks economic 'strangulation' and isolation - there's been a big diplomatic push by the White House to get regional allies on board.

But the early case remains that reactions from other Gulf allies have so far been muted, after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent earlier confirmed that Trump has been phoning world leaders to join him in isolating Iran.

But this is what makes images coming out Monday from a place further to the east so resounding, symbolic, and defiant: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is busy getting the red carpet treatment while attending the annual Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have arrived in Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek for the annual Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit - the primarily China/Russia founded Eurasian political, economic and international security organization which is now made up of ten member states

The bold defiance in terms of the optics will surely not be missed by Washington:

Chinese President Xi Jinping, his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have arrived in Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek for the annual Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is also attending the summit, which marks 25 years of its existence.

Also in attendance for the two-day summit which kicked off Monday, and which has already included a Putin-Xi meeting on the sidelines, are the leaders of Uzbekistan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and others.

Claire's Observations:  Secretary Bessent, have you perhaps noticed that everything you are attempting to do to encircle and destroy Iran's economy, seems to kept getting met with absolute, stony international resistance?!?

Is it possible that  world nations see what you are attempting to do as attempted geopolitical blackmail, and just don't want to participate?!?  

Looking at the "Hero's Welcome" Pezeshkian is getting at the SCO Summit, is it possible that you just might want to consider changing tactics here, in light of the cold, hard reality, that what you are attempting doesn't appear to be working at all, particularly with countries dependent on Iranian oil to keep their economies alive?!?

Of course,  Americans can be absolutely certain that you have a "Plan B" if this doesn't work, particularly  with China's President Xi due at the White House in precisely 23 days for an official state visit, right?!?

Right, Secretary Bessent?!?