China begins to turn against Iran

January 19th, 2012

FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda

Mr Wen’s trip to three of the world’s biggest oil-and-gas producers was
decribed by some commentators as an attempt to seek alternative energy
sources, although he politely denied this was the case: “Some people
said my visit was to secure oil, which is narrow-minded. I came here for
friendship.”

“Iran would not have wanted China to make this statement, but Iran must
understand that if it comes down to a choice China will not alienate itself
from the rest of the world for the sake of single country,” said Yu
Guoqing, a researcher on the Middle East at the Chinese Academy of Social
Sciences.

With a second front of pressure opening up on Iran over its support for the
Syrian regime’s crackdown on nationwide protests, Tehran has moved closer to
global pariah status.

French officials yesterday told Le Figaro newspaper that Iran was training 50
members of Syria’s elite Republican Guard in anti-sedition techniques in
Tehran. The troop commanders travelled to Tehran following a visit to
Damascus at the start of the month by Qasim Suleimani, the head of Iran’s
overseas military interests. Gen Suleimani agreed to provide training for
Syrian officers over the next nine months, an official told the paper. The
French said the officers were members of Unit 101 from the elite 15,000-man
Republican Guard force mostly recruited from President Assad’s Alawi
minority.

Alain Juppe, the French foreign minister, said EU foreign ministers would seal
an oil embargo against Iran and a freeze on the assets of its central bank
at a meeting on Monday.

European Commission officials revealed details of the embargo which would
impose a ban immediately but honour existing contracts until July 1.

The full embargo could still be review in July as officials determine the
impact so far on oil prices. Greece, in particular, is in economic trouble
and relies on Iranian oil.

Iran has threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, used for a third of the
world’s seaborne oil trade, if the embargo goes ahead, fanning fears of a
slide into wider Middle East war.

But the regime has also hinted that it could be open to negotiations by
claiming that it was entertaining a secret invite from President Barack
Obama to open direct talks. Iran claimed the appeal was contained in a
secret letter to the Islamic Republic’s supreme leader that also warned
Tehran against closing the Strait of Hormuz.

“They are flexing their muscle (in public), but they are also secretly
saying: ‘Come talk with us,'” Ali Akbar Salehi, the foreign minister
said on a visit to Turkey. “The US government should act in an open and
honest way.”