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Iran’s grand strategy has not changed: Replace U.S. as dominant Mideast power
http://www.worldtribune.com/2012/10/19/irans-grand-strategy
-has-not-changed-replace-u-s-as-dominant-mideast-power/

excerpt:
In Syria Iran has continued its support for President Bashar Assad all the way through the unrest there, though it prefers this to remain largely unknown. Iran has been supplying the Assad regime military equipment, communications assistance, and military trainers to advise security forces. In fact, the Iranian IRCG-Qods force trains and arms Hizbullah and terrorist groups throughout the region.