Iranian Pressure Point

A Fars news agency report today identified one of Iran's major Achilles Heels--food! Another is refined petroleum product.

By the end of December, 2008, Iran was supplied with 3.44 million tons of grain, worth $1.182 billion. Within the last nine months of 2007, Iran purchased 160,000 tons of grain. The figure showed an 18 percent growth in comparison with the same nine months in 2008. According to the Iranian Commerce Ministry, the country needs 12 million tons of grain this year, with 7 million to be purchased from domestic producers and 5 million from abroad - the remaining 2 million tons of grain will be bought within next two months.

Over 40% of Iran's grain is imported. The figure for 2007 was about 34%. If the Obama administration wants to get tough with Iran, without using military force, sanctions against refined product and grain would do the trick.