BUCHAREST, Romania – President Bush suffered a painful diplomatic setback Wednesday when NATO allies rebuffed his passionate pleas to put former Soviet republics Ukraine and Georgia on the path toward membership in the Western military alliance.

 Russia isn’t a member of NATO. It never will be. But the country which once used to dominate and run the rival Warsaw Pact is nevertheless having a crucial influence on the deliberations in Bucharest of the 26-nation alliance. Whether western powers like it or not, Russia is becoming NATO-Plus-One.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini on Wednesday blasted US President George W. Bush’s “antagonistic” claims on Iran’s missile capabilities and said the statements in Bucharest summit of the military alliance are examples of the US government’s “desperate and opportunistic” attempt to destabilize the Middle East region.