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Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/22/us-iran-economy-idUSKBN0K00RN20141222
Budget Pressure Unlikely to Deflect Iran from Nuclear Goals
(Reuters) Mehrdad Balali - A big oil price slide is unlikely to soften Iran's stance in nuclear talks or end aid to allies such as Syria, matters seen by its ruling clerics as strategic priorities. "Our support to our brother Assad will never change," said a senior Iranian official, referring to the Syrian president. "Because of (declining) oil prices we face economic hardship...but we will manage to continue our support to Syria, militarily and financially." Ali Vaez, of the International Crisis Group, said the oil price fall would hurt, but was unlikely to make Iran accept a nuclear deal. He added that "Iran's support for its allies in Iraq and Syria is not a questions of means, it's a strategic necessity."