EFFECT OF NEW SANCTIONS ON IRAN

"... The new sanctions package includes US financial penalties for any world firms trading with the Revolutionary Guards. They would apply to more than 1,000 companies in Europe, the Middle East, the Persian Gulf and Asia.... the new sanctions will have a crippling effect on its national economy... already hard hit by Washington’s systematic blockage of Iran’s dealings with international banks, which has left Tehran seriously short of cash flow, foreign currency and basic commodities....

"Iran very recently sent Indonesia an “emergency appeal” for gasoline and heavy oil, because it has run out of currency to pay for imported refined oil products....

"Iranian sources recall that the Islamic regime announced in advance that approval of these (sanctions) would be deemed tantamount to an American declaration of war on Iran and call forth retaliation. Tehran would target US interests in the Persian Gulf, Iraq and Afghanistan or Israel by means of Special Groups, i.e. Iran’s foreign intelligence networks, Hizballah or Hamas... that these reprisals may be delayed some days because of a profound power struggle taking place in Iran’s leadership. However... Tehran cannot afford to let Washington’s accusations go unanswered."

--DEBKAfile (Israel), October 25, 2007
http://www.debka.com/index.php