Turkey has no formal role in the talks over Iran's nuclear activities and lacks the clout to be anything more than a facilitator. But it also plays a unique role as an ally of both NATO and of Iran.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan chided the U.S. and other nuclear-armed powers for perceived double standards on Iran, during a recent trip to Pakistan and Iran. That reflected Turkey's goal of staking out its independence from the West while preserving the alliance.

"Having Turkey engage Iran as an independent player is a good thing for the West," said Gulnur Aybet, a lecturer in international relations at the University of Kent at Canterbury in Britain. "It is Turkey's most important asset."

On. Dec. 7, Erdogan will meet President Barack Obama at the White House. The U.S. views Turkey as a key ally in Iraq and Afghanistan and a well-connected friend in a treacherous region. But the Turkish leader might face probing questions in Washington about his recent public support for Iran.

"There is a general understanding with Washington on what he's doing," said Seyfi Tashan, director of the Turkish Foreign Policy Institute in Ankara. "I don't know if he's supplying every detail to Washington, but I believe there's a commonality."

In Tehran on Wednesday, Erdogan said he did not intend to play the role of "go-between" on Iran, and that the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council should take the "first step," so that efforts to prevent nuclear weapons proliferation can win global support.

Erdogan has also said Iran is pursuing a "peaceful, humanitarian energy initiative" and that its conduct in recent negotiations is sincere. Turkey also refrained from criticizing Iran after the Islamic Republic's disputed election in June.

Such remarks on Iran's nuclear program have raised concerns that Turkey's Islamic-oriented government, frustrated by a faltering bid to join the European Union, is turning away from the West.

The reality is that Turkey seeks alliances on all fronts as it strives to become a regional mediator.

"We are a country that wants to maintain its ties both with the West and the East," Erdogan said. "There is no such thing as breaking from one side and shifting to another one."

Turkey also has improved its relations with Iraq and with Syria, an enemy a decade ago. It signed a reconciliation deal with Armenia and seeks to end a conflict with its own Kurdish minority.

Last week, Turkey also recalled key diplomats for consultations on divided Cyprus, where a dispute between the Turkish north and Greek south has undercut Turkey's efforts to join the European Union.

Turkey is "juggling a lot of balls in the air. It must be quite careful it doesn't drop any of them," said Hugh Pope of the International Crisis Group.

An exception to Turkey's outreach is its anger at Israel over last winter's war in Gaza. Erdogan's criticism of Israel boosted his populist appeal at home, but Turkey maintains military and economic ties with Israel.

On Iran, Turkey once viewed that country's fundamentalist leadership with deep suspicion. But Turkey's current government, led by pious Muslims, has fewer reservations.

The two countries have also become closer because of their fight against Kurdish rebels based in northern Iraq. And energy issues are also in play.

Turkey wants to be a hub for energy supplies from the Middle East and Central Asia to European consumers. Turkey's energy minister has said Iran will let Turkey explore its South Pars gas field, and that Iranian gas could go through the Western-backed Nabucco pipeline.

But the U.S. opposes energy deals with Iran. It contends Iran's nuclear program aims to create weapons, a charge Iran denies.