0600 GMT: The Battle Within. In another sign of the rising tension between the Ahmadinejad camp and clerics, Iran News Network reports that the Government will review 750 billion Toman (about $620 million at official rate) support for 157 foundations linked to religious authorities.
0550 GMT: When Friends Fight. Iran's quarrel with Russia continues over Moscow's suspended sale of S-300 missile systems. Iranian lawmakers have threatened to file a lawsuit against the Russians, bringing unconfirmed reports in Russian media that Moscow will review its position on the Iranian nuclear issue.
Russia and Iran agreed to the sale in 2007, but two years ago, before any shipments were made, Moscow halted the deal in line with a United Nations Security Council resolution banning the sale of advanced weapons systems to Iran.
0530 GMT: There are few signs this morning that Iran's attempt on Thursday to seize political ground on the Syria issue, using a hastily-convened conference attended by 28 other countries in Tehran, has gained any traction. To the contrary, last night's news was of the US using the Syrian conflict to impose yet more sanctions on the Islamic Republic.
Trying to choke off Iran's movement of oil --- both to provide much-needed supplies to Damascus and to sell Syria's crude production abroad --- the US State Department sanctioned Syria's State oil company Sytrol for trading with Iran.
State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell linked the step to the American priority of pressing Tehran on the issue of uranium enrichment, "This kind of trade allows Iran to continue developing its nuclear program while providing the Syrian government with resources to oppress its own people."
Ventrell then went for the Islamic Republic on the diplomatic battleground over Syria:
Though these sanctions are a direct result of Syria's provision of gasoline to Iran, the United States views Iran's broader support for the Assad regime as completely unjustifiable. Iran is actively advising, supplying, and assisting the Syrian security forces and regime-backed militias that are carrying out gross human rights abuses against the Syrian people.
Posted via email from lissping
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