Iran pledges to compensate Syria for U.S. sanctions
Geostrategy-Direct, www.geostrategy-direct.com, January 11, 2005

Don't expect economic sanctions to change the policies of Syria's regime.
Iran has already prepared for the prospect of additional U.S. sanctions
against Damascus and has begun a series of major projects in Syria.

For Iran, these projects are strategic. Teheran does not want to be left
alone facing the United States. So, maintaining Syria as an ally in the
fight against the United States is a key goal of Iran.

Iran has been constructing a factory capable of producing 1 million tons of
cement and is also building a power plant in the port city of Banyas. In
all, Iran is prepared to invest up to $3 billion in Syria.

Arab diplomatic sources said the power plant is a strategic option for Iran,
since Teheran wants to use Banyas as a port should the United States block
the Straits of Hormuz.