I am not fully sure, but I would not be surprised if the low oil price is part of the Western strategy to further isolate Iran.
ROME – Israel's chief rabbi on Wednesday accused Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of 'trying to imitate Hitler' and urged the
international community to isolate him.
Source
As I suggested in another
thread, Iran might very well have a plan on the table for
a regime change in Saudi Arabia, which would have two major consequences: - an Iranian supporting Shia Saudi regime and a catastrophic effect on the
world oil supplies / monopoly.
US military support...
Countries such as Israel and the Gulf states are being equipped with advanced Patriot missile systems, in preparation for missile counter-attacks
that Iran is expected to launch, after it has been bombed.
Source
in exchange for low oil prices:
Thursday, 18: Another volatile session today with the price of light sweet crude going as low as $49.90 during the day. An over-supply of crude
and lower demand has caused crude prices to fall. Also easing prices is a statement by Saudi Arabian oil ministers that there is no need for
an emergency meeting in February.
Source
Result: Iran rapidly becomes further isolated, its economy badly damaged and local discontentment even worse.
[Ahmadinejad:]“A friend told me that prices had gone up and a kilo of tomatoes cost 12,000 rials ($1.3),” he said — before being interrupted
by MPs who shouted that tomatoes were being sold for 30,000 rials (3.2 dollars) a kilo.
Unimpressed by the heckling, Ahmadinejad replied: “Come and do your shopping in my neighbourhood. Why shop in expensive places?”
“The government is proud of controlling inflation,” he insisted.
Source
[edit on 22-1-2007 by Mdv2]