The Bush administration has put the democratisation of Iran out to tender–offering money to groups and individuals inside the Islamic republic–in what officials describe as the start of a long-term effort to pay for opposition to the ruling clerics. A tender notice posted on the US State Department website is soliciting bids for grants totalling $3m (€2.3m, £1.57m). It notes that the Iranian government may not apply because current US sanctions prohibit funding for official purposes, but these may be waived for non-governmental organisations.Full Story