Partager l'article ! India rejects Pakistan's proposal to move heavy artillery from LoC

NEW DELHI: India has rejected Pakistan's proposal to move heavy artillery and mortars away from the Line of Control citing frequent ceasefire violations and asked Islamabad to come clear on its nuclear policy, including command and control over nuclear assets.

This was conveyed to the Pakistani officials by India during the two-day talks on nuclear and conventional confidence building measures that were held in Islamabad after a gap of four years, sources said here today.

During the talks India conveyed to Pakistan on the need to demonstrate in practical measure restraint and responsibility in the nuclear field and urged it facilitate the talks on the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty.

India expressed its inability to accept the Pakistani proposal of relocating heavy artillery citing the ongoing violations of ceasefire along the LoC, the sources said.

New Delhi cannot look at such proposals till the situation on the LoC improves, they said.

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna is slated to visit Pakistan to review the progress of the talks and both sides are keen to have the meetings between Home Secretaries, Water Resources Secretaries, Defence Secretaries and Foreign Secretaries before the visit.

On the nuclear CBMs, India made it clear to Pakistan that views on nuclear doctrines could be exchanged only when official documents enunciating the policies are available in the public domain.

Officials pointed out that India had announced its nuclear doctrine of credible minimum deterrence in 2003 which places the command and control of nuclear devices with the civilian leadership.

Why Indian Pilot Training Is So Dangerous

The Indian defense procurement bureaucracy has struck again. Despite over a decade of pressure from the Indian Air Force to obtain new trainers, new basic flight training aircraft have still not been obtained. As a result, trainee pilots are only getting 25 hours of flight time before going off to train on a specific type of aircraft (fighter, transport, helicopter). These trainees are supposed to get 75 hours before moving up to the advanced trainers and service aircraft. This problem has been building for years.

For example, back in 2009 the Indian Air Force shut down its acrobatics team, so that the aircraft they use (which are basically trainers) could be transferred to pilot flight training units, which were desperately short of flyable trainer aircraft. India's fleet of training aircraft is quite old, and increasingly prone to breakdowns and crashes.

India has long put off buying new trainers. There are actually three different trainer aircraft types pilots use during their training. The HPT-32 is used for primary flight training. Intermediate training uses the Kiran Mark II, and then the Hawk Jet Trainer is used for advanced training for fighter pilots. After that, the pilots are sent to combat units where they learn how to operate a specific type of combat aircraft. But in 2009, all 116 HPT 32 basic trainers had to be grounded because of age related problems. HPT reliability has gone done even more since then. The HPT 32 entered service three decades ago, and there have been over a hundred serious accidents, killing 23 instructor and trainee pilots. Because of the HPT 32 problems, the 96 Kiran Mk1 intermediate trainers had to increasingly be used for both basic and intermediate training. These aircraft are being worn out, but even then, most pilot trainees are only getting a third of the required hours before being moved along in their flight training.

The air force has finally received permission to buy 75 Pilatus PC 7 single engine turboprop trainers to replace the HPT 32s. While the HPT-32 was designed and manufactured in India, the Swiss Pilatus is seen as a better buy. The PC 7 is a two seat, 2.7 ton aircraft. The instructor sits behind the trainee and both have an ejection seat. Nearly 500 PC 7s have been built in the last three decades and they are used by 24 nations.

India has also had problems with advanced trainers. For a long time, new pilots went straight from propeller driven trainer aircraft, to high performance jets like the MiG-21. This was made worse by the fact that the MiG-21 has always been a tricky aircraft to fly. This resulted in a high loss rate from peacetime accidents. The solution to this was a new jet trainer. But it took decades for this proposal to make its way through the defense procurement bureaucracy.

Three years ago, India decided to buy another 40 British Hawk jet trainers. Seven years ago, after two decades of effort, BAE Systems finally sold 66 Hawk jet trainers to India, at a cost of some $25 million each. The delays were caused by the Indian unwillingness to spend the money, plus the efforts of French, Russian, Czech and American aircraft manufacturers to put forward their own candidates. Finally, the growing number of Indian MiG-21 aircraft lost forced the government to close the deal. The Hawk advanced jet trainers are the most successful Western aircraft of this type, at least in terms of sales (over 900 have been sold). The US Navy uses the Hawk, and India felt the Hawk was the most suitable for training MiG-21 pilots. The nine ton aircraft are used to train pilots who will eventually fly jet fighters. The Hawk can also be armed and used for ground attack.

Boeing sold 84 F-15 fighters to Saudi Arabia

The U.S. company wins a contract on December 29 over 22 billion euros.

This is the Obama administration announced the news. Hunters designed by Boeing will be equipped with advanced electronic technologies. The contract provides for the sale of 84 units, but also the modernization of 70 hunters older.

For over a year since the U.S. had given the green light from Congress to sell these devices. But the process was slowed in response to tensions in the region.

According to the White House this contract will create 50,000 American jobs and strengthen regional cooperation in defense matters with Saudi Arabia.

"It demonstrates the U.S. commitment in favor of Saudi Arabia in terms of strong defense capability, which is a key element of security in the region, said Andrew Shapiro, a senior State Department. At the Clearly, a threat to Saudi Arabia is Iran. "

Washington as Ryad worry Tehran's nuclear program, suspected of seeking to develop atomic weapons under cover of a civilian energy program. "This contract is a strong message sent by Washington," says he.

Tehran has threatened in recent days to close the Strait of Hormuz, through which a third to 40% of global oil traffic in case of new international sanctions against its controversial nuclear program, a move that would expose the Islamic republic to a reaction Military of the United States.

Corrpution in Pakistani military - Transparency International

KARACHI: Corruption watchdog Transparency International for the first time has included Pakistan’s military in an annual survey, listing it as a notch more corrupt than the country’s education department.

The Pakistan chapter of Transparency International reviews and ranks government departments according to the prevalence of graft in the system.
“Our land revenue and police departments are on top in corruption. The judiciary is ranked fourth while military is in ninth position followed by the education department,” Sohail Muzaffar, said TI Pakistan chairman
.
Transparency International advisor Adil Gilani said the military had been included “to dispel the impression that our surveys are biased”. “This time, we have ranked the military according to popular response about corruption in it. Next time we will have more comprehensive details,” he said.
“It is public perception that others are more corrupt than the armed forces,” he added.

Last year, the judiciary came in sixth.
“Delay in case proceedings and punishment has heavily contributed to the development of a perception that the judicial system has also fallen prey to corruption,” said Gilani.

http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/29/pakistan-military-debuts-on-graft-list.html

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India gets indigenous bomb disposal unit

The Indian army's corps of engineers has taken delivery of the first six indigenously made, remotely operated vehicles designed for bomb disposal.

In 2009 the army ordered 20 of the ROV Daksh from the Defense Research and Development Organization, the government's main military equipment developer, a report by The Times of India said.

The Daksh has been designed and is being manufactured by a consortium of public and private sector businesses, led by the DRDO's robotics group at the Research and Development Establishment laboratories in Pune. Other companies include Tata Motors, Dynalog India, Theta Controls and Bharat Electronics.

"We will hand over the remaining 14 units of the order in a year's time," S. Sundaresh, DRDO's chief controller of armament combat engineering, said at a news conference following the handover to the army.

"The ROVs will be deployed in the northern and eastern command areas of the army and, based on the feedback, the DRDO will develop a further improvised variant called Daksh Mk-I," Sundaresh said.

Alok Mukherjee, head of robotics at Research and Development Establishment, said a basic ROV bought from the United Kingdom in 2002 cost around $335 million whereas the basic Daksh costs about $188 million. Around 90 percent of the machine is made in India.

"But the R&DE is providing added features including an X-ray investigation system and a mounted gun and the entire package costs $329 million," Mukherjee said.

Rakesh Bassi, director general of combat engineers, took delivery of the battery-powered and wheeled Daksh. He also monitored the field trials of Daksh at the military base in Nagrota in Jammu and Kashmir state in 2008.

"The army sought modifications in the ROV, like an additional camera in the rear, a cordless operating system and a carrier vehicle suitable for all-terrain operations. All these have been met by the R&DE," he said.

It was in the early 1990s when the Indian army started to think about using ROVs "following instances of indiscriminate use of (improvised explosive devises) by terrorists and anti-nationals. We had to acquire 45 such vehicles from the United Kingdom, while the DRDO was asked to develop the ROVs," he said.

The ROV includes a mounted shotgun to shoot open locks on doors and other objects. The X-ray system locates the bomb and the vehicle's gripper arm will handle the bomb to safely dispose of it. Operational distance is more than 1,500 feet in line of sight from the controller.

It also has a radio frequency shield that when turned on jams incoming remote signals sent by a terrorist operator of the bomb or from an automatic sender that would trigger the bomb.

Warfare centre to help fight terrorism: US envoy (Bangladesh)

The commissioning of Special Warfare and Diving Salvage Centre (SWADS) in Chittagong and the installation of Radiation Detection System (RDS) in its port will help Bangladesh protect its maritime border and combat terrorism, the US Ambassador said on Tuesday.
 
Van W Mozena was talking to reporters after the inaugural ceremony of the computerised Container Terminal Management System and RDS at the Chittagong Port.
 
The ambassador said the commissioning of SWADS centre at the BNS Issa Khan Naval Base is a result of a partnership between America and Bangladesh.
 
He said the centre would create capacity and capability for Bangladesh to defend its maritime borders against piracy, terrorism, smuggling of drugs, human-trafficking and stealing of fish, and also to protect maritime assets.
 
“My government has contributed 28 million dollars to support the establishment and the growth of SWADS centre through providing equipment and training,” Mozena said.
 
He said the installation of RDS system in Chittagong Port is also very important.
 
The project helps screen containers coming into Bangladesh and leaving the country for nuclear and radioactive materials.
 
Mozena said Bangladesh now sends its export items to various markets around the world, including America. All these markets are protected against nuclear materials and radioactive items.
 
Bangladesh can protect itself against terrorism through the system, he hoped.
 
Under the RDS system installed in July, 12 portal monitors have been set up at four entry gates of the port, said sources, adding that the USA has spent $15 million to set up the system.

Azerbaijan and Turkey form a joint venture for the export of defense

Baku. -. Azerbaijan and Turkey form a joint venture for export of defense products, APA reports quoting the Turkish organization MKEK.

The formation of such an enterprise is discussed since last year. The parties have made proposals Meetings were held at the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense Industry and the Secretariat of Industry defense of Turkey. The final decision was expected in 2012.

Questions concerning export were discussed as part of the last visit of the Turkish Minister of Defence, Ismet Yilmaz in Baku.

The MKEK and the Ministry of Defense Industry have signed a few contracts on the export of weapons produced in Azerbaijan.

Taiwan Navy Retires 2 Missile Boats

TAIPEI, Taiwan - Taiwan on Dec. 28 retired two patrol boats, the navy's first vessels armed with ship-to-ship missiles, that were hailed as "critical" to safeguarding the island, officials said.

Hundreds of former and active soldiers who had served on board the 240-ton Lung Chiang and Sui Chiang bid farewell to the ships at a ceremony in southern Kaohsiung city, the navy said.

Vice Admiral Chiang Lung-an said the ships "have played a critical role in safeguarding Taiwan over the past 30 years".

The U.S.-made Lung Chiang joined Taiwan's navy in 1978, while the Taiwan-built Sui Chiang came three years later in 1981. Each was armed with four homemade "Hsiung Feng I" (Brave Wind I) anti-ship missiles.

Earlier this year, Taiwan's navy put a squadron of 10 guided-missile boats into service featuring what was described as "stealth" technologies as it looked to boost its defenses amid Beijing's military buildup.

Tensions in the Taiwan Strait have eased since President Ma Ying-jeou of the China-friendly Kuomintang party came to power in 2008, pledging to boost trade links and allowing more Chinese tourists to visit the island.

But Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.

The island has governed itself since its split with mainland China in 1949 at the end of a civil war

Army of Tanzania is now equipped with a new chinese main battle tank Type 59G

A new chinese upgrade of the Type 59 main battle tank was unveiled during a military parade in Tanzania. Our initial analysis shows that this new Chinese main battle tank upgrade is based on a modified chassis of the old Type 59 with the turret of the new chinese made Type 96G main battle tank.

A new chinese upgrade of the Type 59 main battle tank was unveiled during a military parade in Tanzania. Our initial analysis shows that this new Chinese main battle tank upgrade is based on a modified chassis of the old Type 59 with the turret of the new chinese made Type 96G main battle tank.

The Tanzania armed forces was equipped with 24 Type 59 MBT, it can be assumed that modernization of these tanks was made by the Chinese defence industry. This new tank would be named as the Type 59G.

The Type 59G is equipped with arrow-shaped spaced add-on armour modules which are mounted on the front of the hull and the turret. Wheels and tracks are now protected by rubber hull skirts.

The turret used by the Type 59G looks very similar to Type 96G. The main armament of Type 96G is composed with a smoothbore 125 mm gun with autoloader of Russian 2A46M design. Auxiliary weapons include one 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun, with a maximum fire-range of 1,800 m and a fire rate of 250 rounds/min. A 12.7-mm calibre anti-aircraft machine gun is mounted on the commander cupola, with a maximum fire-range of 2,000 m.

Indian Navy to induct 24 Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft

Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Nirmal Verma told India Strategic in an interview that the Navy was satisfied with the progress of the first eight Indian P8-Is being built by Boeing under a 2009 order and that the second order for four more aircraft was being processed to be placed within the current fiscal ending March 2012. The Government had cleared these 12 aircraft already as requested by the Navy, and at a later date, it was being planned to acquire 12 more LRMRs for offshore surveillance and protection of the Indian waters and interests, bringing the total to 24, he said. The exact type of the 12 additional aircraft would be worked out later. India has a large coastline exceeding 7500 km and several island territories and economic interests in both its east and west. Notably, the Indian Navy has been using old, Soviet vintage maritime reconnaissance aircraft but after the 26/11 terror attacks on Mumbai from Pakistan, the Government cleared the first eight P8-Is within three months of the horror. Four more were cleared earlier in 2011. n fact, it was Prime Minister Manmohan Singh himself who had asked the Ministry of Defence to ensure modernization of the Navy after the 26/11 attacks, in which 10 Pakistani terrorists easily managed to infiltrate into Mumbai (Bombay) and murder nearly 166 persons and injure more than 300. It may be noted that there had been a virtual paralysis in the Government on defence modernization after the V P Singh Government instituted inquiries in 1989 over the controversial Bofors gun deal with Sweden. The Kargil War over Pakistani occupation of strategic Himalayan heights inside India triggered the first round of modernization, and the 26/11 terror attack, the second.Admiral Verma said that the P8-I is the most advanced LRMR platform with capability to observe even small boats and destroy hostile submarines. India is the first export customer for this US aircraft, and the advantage is that India will benefit from the hi-tech systems being developed for the US Navy, (which has ordered 117 aircraft). Most of the specifications of the US Navy and the Indian Navy are reportedly common but details are understandably being kept secret. There would be some Indian components though, thanks to the offsets and Transfer of Technology (ToT) requirements. India’s Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) has already started supplying its Data Link II system to facilitate P8-I’s communications with Indian space, naval, and land based-assets. The US aircraft, designated P8-A Poseidon Multimission Maritime Aircraft (MMA), has the capability for broad area surveillance and launching Harpoon anti-ship and land attack missiles, depth charges and torpedoes against submarines and underwater unmanned assets. The aircraft can also perform electronic intelligence (ELINT) missions with its highly sophisticated Raytheon’s APY-10 radar and Northrop Grumman’s Electronic Warfare (EW) systems. The first Indian P8-I, which had the first test flight on Sep 28 in the presence of Indian naval officials, is due to be delivered in January 2013. The first US Navy P8-A flew in April 2009 and is due to be delivered mid-2012. Admiral Verma said that he expected all the P8-Is to be delivered in about six to seven years but did not give the planned schedule. The P8 aircraft is a next-gen military version of Boeing 737-800 fuselage with wings from 737-900. The engines are also from the same CFM family used on commercial 737s but more powerful permitting the aircraft low level cruise over the waters and launch sonobuoys to detect submarines. There are five stations for systems and weapons operators, and the aircraft can be in the air for several hours. According to a Boeing statement, “All sensors contribute to a single fused tactical situation display, which is then shared over both military standard and internet protocol data links, allowing for seamless delivery of information while simultaneously providing data to everyone on the network.”

A clear photo of J-10B Fighter Radar

The well-known Jane's has reported the exist of J-10B and fortunately lots of Chinese aviation fans use their digital cameras to be volunteer reporters for western medias.

According to new Chinese internet images appear in june 2011, aviationweek.com says that the new J-10B version of Chengdu's canard fighter is fitted with an electronically scanned array radar. It could be a Rafale-type passive ESA, but that's improbable in 2011 -- it is more likely an active ESA, its development quite likely aided by China's massive campaign of cyberespionage.

Now there is a better image available to digging the truth of J-10B fire-control radar.

 In 2011, China will give Pakistan a squadron of the advanced J-10B multi-role, all-weather fighter aircraft in a bid to boost the strategic reach of its close ally, a media report has said.

Al Qaeda leaders leaving Pakistan, moving to Africa

The Al Qaeda leadership, which has been weakened in Pakistan following the killing of many of its senior members -- including Osama bin Laden -- in drone strikes, is now suspected to be shifting to north Africa, a media report said on Monday.

British officials believe that a "last push" in 2012 may destroy Al Qaeda's remaining senior leadership in Pakistan, The Guardian reported.

Many senior Al Qaeda members have been killed in air strikes by unmanned drones and "only a handful of the key players" remain alive, said an official.

Al Qaeda's top leader Osama bin Laden was gunned down in Pakistan's Abbottabad town May 2 by US commandos who launched a daring operation using stealth helicopters.

Sources said that at least two relatively senior Al Qaeda leaders have made their way to Libya, with others intercepted en route. This has caused fears that north Africa could become a new "theatre of jihad".

"A group of very experienced figures from north Africa left camps in Afghanistan's (northeastern) Kunar province where they have been based for several years and travelled back across the Middle East," a source said, adding: "Some got stopped but a few got through."

The media report said it was not clear whether the move from Afghanistan-Pakistan to north Africa was prompted by a desire for greater security that may be unlikely as coalition forces begin to withdraw from Afghanistan or part of a strategic attempt to exploit the aftermath of the Arab spring.

A smaller flow of volunteers reaching makeshift bases in Pakistan's tribal areas has complicated matters for Al Qaeda.

"I think they are really very much weakened," an official was quoted as saying.

"You can't say they don't pose a threat -- they do -- but it's a much lesser one," he said.

Intelligence sources told The Guardian they estimate that there are less than 100 "Al Qaeda or Al Qaeda-affiliated" militants in Afghanistan.

On the Haqqani network, an official said there was evidence it had been acting as intermediaries between the Pakistani secret services and militant groups.

"To move against the Haqqanis is a no-win option for the Pakistani military. If they suffer heavy casualties and fail to eliminate the group, they lose their authority and a key interlocutor. If they succeed, they lose a key asset," the official said.

pakistan to become 4th largest nuclear State At The End Of Decade

Pakistan would become fourth largest nuclear state at the end of this decade, A US website, The Huffington Post reported.

The website claimed that the world's five original nuclear weapons countries have all suspended production of fissile materials for new weapons and are negotiating cuts in their nuclear arsenals. But Pakistan is steadily building more nuclear weapons, adding production capacity to produce plutonium and enrich uranium, and building new missiles to deliver nuclear warheads.

It further claimed that the nuclear risks in Pakistan are three-fold: its non-proliferation record is poor, there are concerns about the security of sensitive nuclear materials, and there is no sign of a slowdown in its nuclear weapons drive. A global response needs to be calibrated to address all three of these potential threats.

Former UN weapons inspector David Albright, reported that Pakistan appears to be building a fourth plutonium reactor at the Khushab complex, and is expanding plutonium separation capabilities at another site.

Another report, from a US think tank, says Pakistan now has 70 to 90 nuclear warheads, more than its rival India. This puts Pakistan on track to command the world's fourth-largest nuclear weapons arsenal by the end of the decade.

The evidence suggests that Pakistan is trying to develop a second-strike nuclear capability. Pakistan has tested cruise and other missiles that can carry strategic warheads from land or even from submarines.
North Korea and Pakistan also continue to partner each other such as in matters of missile and uranium enrichment technologies.

Pakistan is not party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty or NPT. In other words, the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to provide comprehensive safeguards is limited.

The existing three Pakistani nuclear reactors at Khushab require more than 40 tons of uranium annually.

Iran's navy begins drill in international waters

TEHRAN, Iran – Iran's navy began a 10-day drill Saturday in international waters near the strategic oil route that passes through the Strait of Hormuz.
The exercises, dubbed "Velayat 90," could bring Iranian ships into proximity with U.S. Navy vessels in the area.

The war games cover a 1,250-mile (2,000-kilometer) stretch of sea off the Strait of Hormuz, northern parts of the Indian Ocean and into the Gulf of Aden, near the entrance to the Red Sea, state TV reported. The drill will be Iran's latest show of strength in the face of mounting international criticism over its controversial nuclear program, which the West fears is aimed at developing atomic weapons. Tehran denies those charges, insisting the program is for peaceful purposes only.
Navy chief Adm. Habibollah Sayyari said Iran is holding the drill to show off its prowess and defense capabilities.

"To show off its might, the navy needs to be present in international waters. It's necessary to demonstrate the navy's defense capabilities," state TV quoted Sayyari as saying.
The Strait of Hormuz is of strategic significance as the passageway for about a third of the world's oil tanker traffic. Beyond it lie vast bodies of water, including the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The U.S. Navy's Bahrain-based Fifth Fleet is also active in the area, as are warships of several other countries that patrol for pirates there.

Both the U.S. and Israel have not ruled out a military option against Iran over its nuclear program. Iranian hard-liners have come out with occasional threats that Tehran would seal off the key waterway if the U.S. or Israel moved against the country's nuclear facilities.
Iran regularly holds war games and has also been active in fighting piracy in the Gulf of Aden.
Sayyari said submarines, surface-to-sea missile systems, missile-launching vessels, torpedoes and drones will be employed in the maneuvers.

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Iran preoccupied by plunging currency ...Inflation rate reaches 19.1 %

In contrary of the Central Bank promise , the exchange rate of foreign currencies increased dramatically during last week and one US Dollar was sold 1500 Toman against 1100 official rate.Meanwhile the Central Bank stopped to sell gold coins as it was announced with enthusiasm and Ahmadinejad tried to bring confidence to the market during a speech in a seminar for evaluation of new subsidy law on Tuesday 20 December .

 Iranian officials, lawmakers and media on Wednesday worriedly snapped their focus on to their country's sanctions-hit economy amid a sudden and accelerating plunge in the currency.

The currency, the rial, was trading at 15,800 to the dollar -- its lowest point ever, and an indication of the fragility of the economy as ramped-up Western sanctions bit.

Concerned lawmakers summoned the economy minister, central bank chief and foreign ministry officials to testify on the economic situation and how Iran could weather more sanctions expected to be applied soon by Europe and the United States.

A report by Mehr news agency on Tuesday -- quickly denied by the foreign ministry -- that vital imports from one of Iran's biggest partners, the United Arab Emirates, had been cut off added to the widespread jitters and seemed to fuel the rial's slide.The stumble by the currency undercut avowed Iranian policy to keep the rial steady against the dollar. It suggested the central bank lacked the financial firepower to bring the rate under control.

But President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad put the currency slide down to "rumours" started by profiteers and sought to reassure the public that the economy was "stable and calm," in a speech broadcast on state television.

not experiencing any particular problems," he said, asserting that foreign exchange reserves were at a historic high.
On Tuesday, Ahmadinejad said "mischief from outside and inside" the country was affecting gold and currency prices, according to Iranian media.

The United States and its Western allies have in recent weeks stepped up economic sanctions on Iran, to pressure it over its nuclear programme that they believe masks an drive to build an atomic bomb, despite Tehran's denials.

Iran-US tensions have also worsened over US accusations of a thwarted Iranian plot to kill the Saudi ambassador to Washington, Iran's capture of a CIA drone, and Tehran's arrest and detention of an American-Iranian it alleges is a CIA spy.
US envoys have visited the region to demand some of Iran's neighbours also embrace the sanctions drive. One of them, a US Treasury under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, David Cohen, visited the United Arab Emirates at the end of November to talk with officials on the issue.
Iranian officials are increasingly admitting that the Western sanctions are being felt, dropping previous assertions that they were having no effect.

The measures were believed to be making it more difficult on Iran's finances, notably its ability to come up with the monthly $2.5 billion for cash handouts to the population in compensation for domestic fuel and food subsidies that are being phased out.Central bank figures quoted by Iranian media say the amount of rials in circulation has jumped 20 percent in the past five months as more money is printed.That in turn has driven inflation sharply higher. The central bank says it is now running at 19.8 percent, but Iranians and anecdotal evidence suggest it is much higher.
The United States and Europe are expected to soon announce additional sanctions on Iran, targeting the country's vital oil sector and central bank