Iran has opened two lines of credit totalling $4 billion to Damascus and expects to open up a third to counter the effects of an international embargo, Syria\'s central bank said on Monday. Central bank governor Adib Mayale told Tishreen newspaper that the Syrian regime is will receive a $3bn loan from Iran very shortly. Mayale also said the central bank was taking measures to \"defend\" the Syrian pound against speculators and ensure sufficient reserves to allow continued imports of materials needed by industry.