Syrian and Iranian efforts to end the fighting have been unsuccessful.

Iranian efforts have also been hit by the assassination of three of their top nuclear scientists in the past two years.

Iraq said it would resist any Iranian effort to interfere with its shipping.

Three months later he was made head of the Iranian nuclear effort.

But the Iranian efforts to mend fences have not overcome the suspicion that something bigger than pistachios must be at work.

But he added that given the intensity of Iranian efforts, solving the problems that stand in their way might take a "much shorter" time.

A solution to the crisis would also help Iranian efforts to obtain Western credits for economic reconstruction.

It said Iranian efforts should make it possible "to return to liberty those hostages still held."

Some foreign businessmen said they believed that greater trade volume might generate more serious Iranian efforts to free the hostages.

Similarly, we oppose Iranian efforts to sponsor terror.