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Russia, Iran and Turkey have interstate relations since the 16th Century. Despite this historical depth, one cannot talk about the return of three « Empires » in today’s Middle East. Indeed, the empowerment of the regional policy of these three states is more due to the US withdrawal from the region rather than the result of a proactive policy. Facing the vacuum of the US power in the Middle East, Moscow, Tehran and Ankara have decided not only to influence the political future of Iraq (after 2003) and Syria (after 2011) but also to protect their states from any contagions from the regional chaos. The Astana diplomatic process regarding the Syrian civil war can be both considered as an alternative diplomatic channel or as a complementary one vis-à-vis the United Nations led Geneva process. Nevertheless, the strength of the military power of these three states does not mean that they have the ability to translate this military force into a diplomatic capacity to politically solve the Syrian crisis.