Iran’s 24th fleet will begin a new three-month tour of duty next week that will take the warship and submarine into the Mediterranean Sea to “block threats to the Islamic republic.” Similar deployments have been used as symbolic moves channeled into domestic propaganda channels, but have also been used to deliver assets to Iranian proxies in places as far-flung as Sudan, Lebanon, and the Gaza Strip. These and other Iranian moves to project power conventionally come at a time when Iran continues to deny experts from the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog access to the Parchin military facility, where it is believed that Iranian scientists conducted work related to the detonation of nuclear warheads. Inspectors are on the ground in Tehran and reports have been leaked to the effect that progress was being made in securing access to the facility, but efforts have now been extended at least one more day. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei yesterday maintained a defiant stance on the broad scoop of talks, linking concessions to capitulation and minimizing prospects for progress.

[Photo: Gire 3pich2005 / Wiki Commons]