1.   Contacts have increased and it seems clear that some influential factions in Iran have an interest in improved relations while others oppose any opening to Washington.

2.   Others say face-to-face human contact will only increase in value as more and more of our day-to-day communication becomes electronic.

3.   That contact will increase when there is no season.

4.   Political, economic and cultural contacts have increased dramatically.

5.   The Chinese government often has accused the Vatican of trying to meddle in its internal affairs, but contacts have increased in recent years.

6.   Although no official contract has been signed between France and Iraq since the imposition of sanctions, contacts have increased between their business sectors in the past two years.