Month: August 2020

“Iran unveils new ballistic cruise missiles after US triggers snapback sanctions,” Ellen Mitchell, The Hill, August 21, 2020.

“Iran denies that ‘new’ cruise missile is just an old one with new paint,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, August 21, 2020.

“Former Iran National Soccer Team Coach Under Fire After Criticizing Hostility Against Israel,” Radio Farda, August 21, 2020.

“President Faure: Missing Seychellois linked to drug network in Iran, shared intel shows,” Betymie Bonnelame, Seychelles News Agency, August 21, 2020.

“Pompeo Rebukes Allies on Iran, Hands UN Sanctions Demand,” David Wainer and Nick Wadhams, MSN, August 21, 2020.

“The man who said no: how Iran coerces expats to inform on friends,” Julian Borger, Guardian, August 21, 2020.

We will be learning more about this event that occurred just a few hours ago, amidst the threats Iran has made against its Persian Gulf neighbor for making peace with Israel.  “Iran detains UAE ship and its crew after fishermen killed,” Al Jazeera, August 20, 2020.

We know a little more from open sources today than yesterday, but still no specifics.  “Report: Hezbollah received ammonium nitrate from Iran,” Arutz Sheva, August 20, 2020.  A German newspaper, Die Welt, is reporting that Iran sent Hezbollah many shipments of ammonium nitrate, what caused the huge explosion in Beirut’s port early in August.  The report quoted anonymous intelligence sources from Western countries, and stated documentation exists proving Hezbollah had ammonium nitrate.  The IRGC and its Quds Force and Gen. Qassem Soleimani were involved.

“Iran to drill new phase at giant South Pars field,” Argus Media, August 20, 2020.

“Iran Unveils New Missiles Named for Leaders Killed in US Strike, State TV Says,” NBC DFW, August 20, 2020.

“US Charges 3 in Scheme to Move US Currency to Iran,” VOA, August 20, 2020.  “The Justice Department alleges Zaidi, Chawla and other members of an organization called Islamic Pulse received permission from Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to collect a religious tax on Khamenei’s behalf and send half the money to Yemen. … Prosecutors say after the United States imposed sanctions on Khamenei in 2019, the group continued to collect U.S. dollars in the United States and send it to Iran, “structured in a such a way as to avoid reporting requirements.””

“Pompeo Tries Starting ‘Snapback’ Clock To Restore Sanctions Against Iran By U.N.,” David Welna, NPR, August 20, 2020.

“Iran says takes “big steps” to boost uranium enrichment capacity,” Xinhua|, August 20, 2020.

“Head Of Khamenei Charity In Iran ‘Apologizes’ For Exposing Top Officials, Entities,” Radio Farda, August 20, 2020.

“Iran announces locally made ballistic and cruise missiles amid U.S. tensions,” Reuters, Newsbreak, August 20, 2020.

“Colombian leader says Venezuela trying to acquire Iran missiles,” AFP, France 24, August 20, 2020.  “Colombia’s President Ivan Duque claimed Thursday that the government of President Nicolas Maduro in neighboring Venezuela was working to acquire missiles from its ally Iran. “There is information from international intelligence agencies which work with us showing that there is an interest from the dictatorship of Nicolas Maduro to acquire some medium- and long-range missiles through Iran,” the right-wing Colombian leader said. According to Duque, the missiles “have not yet arrived” in Venezuela, but the country’s Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino had been put in charge of Venezuela’s “approaches” to Iran over acquiring the weapons.”

“The Russian-Iranian Partnership: An Eternal Honeymoon,” Ghoncheh Tazmini, Valdai Discussion Club, August 19, 2020.

All we know at present.  “Hezbollah has received large quantities of ammonium nitrate from Iran, the same substance that caused the massive explosion at the port of Beirut earlier this month. This is according to a report by the German news agency DEWALT.”  See “Hezbollah received shipments from Iran of the chemical that exploded in Beirut,” Zeev Avrahami|, Ynet, August 19, 2020.

“The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology is going to launch five satellites in cooperation with the Defence Ministry by the end of the year (March 2021).”  See “Iran Says Planning to Launch 5 New Satellites by March 2021,” IFP, August 19, 2020.

“Pro-Iran Groups Escalate Violence as Iraq PM Heads to US,” AFP, The Defense Post, August 19, 2020.

The UN investigation of the assassination of PM Hariri has failed.  Here are three articles.  Only one person was held accountable–no Hezbollah, no Iran, no one.  “Hezbollah Still Has a Knife at Lebanon’s Throat After Hariri Verdict,” Oz Katerji, Foreign Policy, August 19, 2020; “Tribunal Convicts Hezbollah Member in Hariri Assassination, Acquits Three Others,” Jared Malsin, Wall Street Journal, August 18, 2020.  “Shattered Lebanon finds little peace in Hariri verdict,” Najia Houssari, Arab News, August 19, 2020.

Under the terms of Security Council Resolution 2231, which enshrined the nuclear deal and to which the U.S. remains a party, the invocation of snapback for significant Iranian noncompliance starts a 30-day clock during which the council must vote affirmatively to continue the sanctions relief that Iran was given in return for curbs on its nuclear program. Pompeo is expected to present evidence of significant noncompliance, likely the latest reports of the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), on Thursday. Iran does not deny violating some terms of the deal but says its actions have been forced by the U.S. withdrawal and the Trump administration’s reimposition of U.S. sanctions.  See “US to demand UN sanctions for Iran in complicated procedure that evades veto, “ AP, Daily Sabah, August 19, 2020.

“The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology is going to launch five satellites in cooperation with the Defence Ministry by the end of the year (March 2021).”  See “Iran Says Planning to Launch 5 New Satellites by March 2021,” IFP, August 19, 2020.

“Pro-Iran Groups Escalate Violence as Iraq PM Heads to US,” AFP, The Defense Post, August 19, 2020.

“U.S. imposes sanctions on two UAE-based companies for aiding Iran’s biggest airline,” Amanda Macias, CNBC, August 19, 2020.

Absolutely.  I wrote repeatedly in six op-eds that the U.S. must get out of the JCPOA.  And Pres. Trump deserves much credit for standing up to the world and Iran by doing so and paving a way for peace chances in the Middle East.  See “Outgoing Trump Iran envoy: Withdrawal from Iran deal led to Israel-UAE accord,” Jacob Kornbluh, Jewish Insider, August 18, 2020.  Brian Hook, the outgoing State Department special representative for Iran, suggested on Tuesday that the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran opened a path to broker the normalization deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates last week. “When you have the wrong Iran strategy, it is impossible to get peace agreements between Gulf nations and Israel because they don’t trust you,” Hook said during a webinar hosted by United Against Nuclear Iran. “And there’s no question that the nations in the Gulf and Israel viewed the Iran nuclear deal as a betrayal.” Hook maintained that President Donald Trump’s decision in 2018 to walk away from the international accord agreed to by the Obama administration “restored the trust” with its allies. “That was a necessary precondition to being in a position to get a peace agreement signed,” Hook explained. “When you get your run strategy right, it also creates a better environment for other good things to happen. And you saw that last week when we were able to broker a peace agreement between the U.A.E. and Israel.”

“How Iran tried to bribe Taliban operatives with bounties on US soldiers, according to a former Taliban commander,” Mitch Prothero, Business Insider, August 18, 2020.

The Quds Force brokered a deal with the Haqqani network, a guerilla group associated with both Taliban and al Qaeda.  And here’s a quote.  “It’s normal in Afghanistan for such people to work together but I know Iran very well because I lived there, same with Pakistan and I knew that both consider Afghans to be dogs they can use for their plans and let die. Haqqani and al Qaeda tell everyone that the Iranians are [infidels] but they also arrange meetings for them with the Taliban. You cannot trust any of these people.”

“Iran sentences pastor, wife to prison for security crime of ‘Evangelism’,” Jerusalem Post, August 18, 2020.  Authoritarianism is always challenged by Christians–those who believe in a Supreme Being and His higher law.  “Iranian courts have sentenced Pastor Victor Bet-Tamraz to 10 years in prison for “conducting Evangelism” and “illegal house church activities,” while his wife Shamiram Isavi was given a five-year sentence for “membership of a group with the purpose of disrupting national security” and “gathering and colluding to commit crimes against national security.””

“Iran’s hard-liners push legislation to exit nuclear deal,” Al Monitor, August 18, 2020.

“The Secretary-General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, Dr. Nayef Falah Mubarak Al Hajraf, has expressed his condemnation of the threats of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and some Iranian officials towards the UAE, which carry serious repercussions on the security and stability of the Gulf region, and are inconsistent with diplomatic norms, local media reported. Al Hajraf demanded that Iran adhere to the basic principles, principles and pillars of the United Nations Charter and the international law, which are based on respect for state sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, resolving disputes by peaceful means, and not using or threatening to use force.”  See “GCC tells Iran that Gulf security is ‘red line’,” Samir Salama, Gulf News, August 18, 2020.

“US, Israel Readying Their Stealth F-35 Jets If Iran Procures S-400s From Russia,” EurAsian Times, August 18, 2020.

“Coronavirus costs Iran’s tourism $2.8b so far, minister says,” Tehran Times, August 18, 2020.

It is hard to tell what Russia has extracted from Iran by the reporting in this piece.  But Iran does receive some equipment.  “Iran, Russia ink MOU on mining cooperation,” Tehran Times, August 18, 2020.

“Iran denies Taliban were paid bounties to target US troops,” AP, Journal Courier, August 18, 2020.  So we’ve got another “it either happened or it didn’t.”  FM spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said the claims were “entirely false.”

“Tribunal Convicts Hezbollah Member in Hariri Assassination, Acquits Three Others,” Jared Malsin, Wall Street Journal, August 18, 2020.

“US intelligence indicates Iran paid bounties to Taliban for targeting American troops in Afghanistan,” Zachary Cohen, CNN, August 17, 2020.  It is now public that U.S. intelligence agencies determined that Iran offered bounties to the Taliban for targeting U.S. and coalition troops in Afghanistan.  The CIA and other agencies identified amounts for at least six attacks including a concerning attack at Bagram in December.  Iran paid the bounties to the Haqqani network, led by the second highest ranking Taliban leader.

So let’s deal with the untruth told by Iran about who owned the oil.  Here’s Iran’s side.  “Iran: Fuel en route to Venezuela seized by US wasn’t Iranian,” AP, Seattle Times, August 17, 2020.  “The cargo of four tankers seized by the United States last week en route to Venezuela was no longer Iranian property, Iran’s oil minister said Monday, insisting that the U.S. had no right to confiscate the shipment in international waters. [If it’s not their oil, they shouldn’t care if it was confiscated on the high seas]. According to the semi-official ISNA news agency, Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said the oil had been “sold to customers and the payment was received” for it. He did not elaborate or say who the owners of the petrol was at the time of the seizure. But Zanganeh’s remarks echoed those of Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif who on Sunday called the U.S. “pirates of Caribbean” in a tweet and said the ships carried sold cargo. Iran’s ambassador to Venezuela, Hojad Soltani, also said that neither the ships not the oil were Iranian. “Sadly for them, stolen booty wasn’t Iran’s. Fuel was sold F.O.B. Persian Gulf. Ship and flag weren’t ours either,” Zarif tweeted.

“Iran Claims Fuel Seized By U.S. Was Not Iranian…. But It Was,” Tsvetana Paraskova, OilPrice.com, August 17, 2020.  Iran claims the oil was FOB (Free on Board), which means the buyer is responsible for cost and liabilities once goods are shipped.  Otherwise a shipment is CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight).  But it doesn’t matter, the oil or gasoline can be seized even when the next buyer or the next buyer possesses the goods purchases, no matter what the good or the line.  The persons dealing with Iran are subject to seizure also—no one in international law says the goods can only be seized when still in the possession of the subject country.

“Tehran Says Ships Targeted by U.S. Were Holding Iranian Fuel,” Arsalan Shahla and Verity Ratcliffe, Bloomberg, August 17, 2020.  “Vice Admiral James Malloy, commander of the U.S. Fifth Fleet based in Bahrain, said on Monday that Washington contracted vessels to stop the tankers and transfer the fuel to other ships. Two of the transfers took place in the Gulf of Oman, and the other two occurred off the coast of Mozambique, he said on a call with reporters.”

A detailed, well-sourced report.  “Evidence suggests Iranian weapons being trafficked by criminal networks into the Horn of Africa,” Daily Maverick and Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime, August 17, 2020.

Four tankers whose fuel was seized by the U.S. over the past month were heading to Venezuela and carrying gasoline loaded in Iran, according to Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh. His comments are the first acknowledgment by Tehran that the vessels were transporting cargo from the Islamic Republic when the U.S. confiscated it. Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday it was a “lie.”  See “Tehran Says Ships Targeted by U.S. Were Holding Iranian Fuel,” Arsalan Shahla and Verity Ratcliffe, Bloomberg, August 17, 2020.

“Iran reports 165 more virus deaths, over 2,200 cases,” Ahmet Dursun, AA, August 17, 2020.

“Iran’s Economy Facing New Trouble With the Fall of the Stock Market,” Pooya Stone, Iran Focus, August 17, 2020.

“Iran’s proxies continue to be regional menace,” Maya Carlin, Israel Hayom, August 17, 2020.

Quote of the Day, this from Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, head of the Parliament.  “This deal and compromise is a blatant betrayal of human values, Islamic teachings of the Muslim community and the cause of Palestine.”  …  “Today, defending Palestine and fighting the Zionist regime [of Israel] is a clear criterion for telling justice-seekers around the world from hypocrites and criminals.”  …  “Those who strike up a friendship with the Zionist regime [of Israel] are seen by the entire Muslim community as a traitor, criminal and accomplice to all wicked actions done by the evil Zionist regime in the past, present and future.”  See “Entire Muslim World Sees UAE as Traitor: Iran,” IFP, August 17, 2020.

Narco-terror groups ELN and FARC are teaming up with Iran in South America.  “Southern Command eyes Venezuela’s illicit connections and Iranian patronage,” Abraham Mahshie, Washington Examiner, August 16, 2020.

“Iranian supermarket chain launches in Venezuelan capital,” Lucia Newman, Al Jazeera, August 16, 2020.

“FM Zarif Pledges Iran’s Unflagging Support for Palestine,” August, 16, 2020, Tasnim, August 16, 2020.

“UAE Rejects Iranian Threats After Historic Israel Deal,” EurAsian Times, August 16, 2020.  As does the GCC.  “Gulf Cooperation Council secretary general condemns Iran’s ‘threats’ to UAE,” Reuters, August 16, 2020.

No evidence.  “Beirut blast ‘100 percent Israeli job’: advisor to Iran’s Leader,” Tehran Times, August 16, 2020.

Saturday 147 died, reported on Sunday.  “Iran’s Daily COVID-19 Fatalities Down to 147,” IFP, August 16, 2020.

I’ve heard several caves have also been discovered in north Tehran.  “Caves in northern Iran show evidence of Neanderthals,” Tehran Times, August 16, 2020.

“Iran’s Parliament Deeply Rooted in Corruption,” Jubin Katiraie, Iran Focus, August 16, 2020.

The political prisoners said in their letter, “We started to strike today to protest the violations of the political prisoners’ rights and the authorities’ insistency on imprisoning justice-seeking people in these deplorable health conditions and in this remote prison, which lacks the necessary standards for human care. The main point is that none of us are criminals and our right to protest. Criminals are those who cause inflation and a catastrophic economic situation.” See “72 Detained Iran Protesters Go on Hunger Strike Over Coronavirus Fears,” Iran HRM, August 16, 2020.

The UN arms embargo on Iran will expire in October, unless the world or the U.S. takes action.  “Iran says to export arms once UN embargo lifted,” Syed Zafar Mehdi, AA, August 16, 2020.

Oh no, not again.  The picture chosen for this picture looks like a man in a football uniform for the women’s national team.  This was a problem several years ago when Iran snuck men onto the team and covered their heads.  “Iran Women’s Unchanged in FIFA Rankings,” Tasnim, August, 15, 2020.

This is the sort of thing that the world should not put up with.  “Iran’s Kayhan says UAE a ‘legitimate target’ after Israel deal,” Middle East Eye, August 15, 2020.  Note in the story that the Supreme Leader himself says the Regime and its “resistance” violence can now target the UAE, and that Pres. Rouhani states the UAE joined the agreement to help Pres. Trump be re-elected—so, Rouhani indicates who Iran doesn’t want to be U.S. president.

We’ll see what the OIC says about Iran’s proposal.  If this is a good idea, it probably would have already occurred.  “Iran’s Judiciary chief calls for forming an int’l Islamic court,” Trend, August 15, 2020.

A listing of some of the secret and detention facilities run by the IRGC and the Min. of Intelligence.  “IRGC Secret Dungeon Under Jamalzadeh Barracks in Iran Capital,” Iran News Update, August 15, 2020.

“Iran: US report on seized Iran oil cargoes false,” Middle East Memo, August 15, 2020.  Really funny—here is Iran’s most recent argument.  From the story, “Iran has confirmed that US reports on the seizing of Iranian fuel cargoes aboard ships bound for Venezuela are false, Iranian media reported on Friday.  Press TV reported informed Iranian sources stating that the fuel shipments in question had already been purchased and paid for, and that neither the vessels carrying them nor the shipments themselves were related to Iran.”  Here’s another story, quoting the President of Iran himself.  “Neither the ships nor the flag was Iranian. The whole story is a lie,” Rouhani was quoted by semi official news agency ISNA as stating.”  See “Iran refutes U.S. announcement of seizing Iranian oil tankers as “lie”,” Xinhua, August 15, 2020.  These stories, of who is telling the truth on any particular crisis, the U.S. or Iran, pop up every month or two.  Iran doesn’t have a good track record of winning these “who is telling the truth” events.

Careful readers of the news will note that when FM Zarif states Iran’s support for Palestine in a telephone conversation with Ismail Haniyeh, the chief of Hamas, Zarif is not talking with the leader of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas.  Zarif instead speaks with the leader of the terror group Hamas.  See “Zarif Underlines Iran’s Support for Palestine in Talks with Hamas Chief,” Tasnim, August, 15, 2020.

Pursuant to the 2015 JCPOA, the conventional weapons ban on Iran will expire in mid-October.  A poor idea by those who negotiated on behalf of the West.  Imagine, just five more years of Iran not importing or exporting weapons.  Should have been 25 years, etc.  This was one of the reasons the U.S. bolted in 2018.  If the U.S. is now the country forced to lead the snapback charge on int’l sanctions bec of Iran’s repeated violations of the JCPOA, including enrichment and impeding inspections, one has to ask where are the other countries?  See “Trump says snapback sanctions against Iran could come next week,” Jason Hoffman, CNN, August 15, 2020.

Under the terms of the 2015 JCPOA, the conventional weapons ban on Iran will expire in mid-October.  A poor idea by those who negotiated on behalf of the West.  Imagine, just five more years of Iran not importing or exporting weapons.  Should have been 25 years, etc.  This was one of the reasons the U.S. bolted in 2018.  If the U.S. is now the country forced to lead the snapback charge on int’l sanctions bec of Iran’s repeated violations of the JCPOA, including enrichment and impeding inspections, one has to ask where are the other countries?  See “Trump says snapback sanctions against Iran could come next week,” Jason Hoffman, CNN, August 15, 2020.

This story publicly began yesterday.  Here are more details of the U.S. using a peaceful, international law method in which private companies participate, and no military force was used, to seize oil being used for nefarious purposes.  Impressive.  “US seizes Iranian gas heading for Venezuela: reports,” Al Jazeera, August 14, 2020.  Here’s another.  “U.S. Seizes Iranian Fuel Cargo for First Time,” Benoit Faucon and Aruna Viswanatha, Wall Street Journal, August 13, 2020.

“Iran, Not Israel, Now the Unifying Focus for Much of Middle East,” Golnar Motevalli, Bloomberg, August 14, 2020.

“U.S. Seizes Iranian Fuel From 4 Tankers Bound For Venezuela,” Scott Neuman, NPR, August 14, 2020.  A senior U.S. official said no military force was used in the seizures and the ships were not confiscated.  Instead, U.S. officials threatened ship owners, insurers, and captains with sanctions and they hand over their Iranian cargo, which becomes U.S. property by order of the district court that issued the warrant.  Iran’s ambassador to Venezuela said reports that Iranian tankers had been seized were “yet another lie and psychological warfare” by the United States.  “The ships are not Iranian, and neither the owner nor its flag has anything to do with Iran,” Hojat Soltani said on Twitter in Spanish.  “This is another lie and act of psychological warfare perpetrated by the US propaganda machine,” Soltani said.  Soltani’s comments were not challenged by NPR.

The UN itself becomes an enabler for the Regime’s terrorism.  “The Security Council “rejected a reasonable resolution to extend the 13-year old arms embargo on Iran and paved the way for the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism to buy and sell conventional weapons without specific UN restrictions in place for the first time in over a decade,” Pompeo said in a statement. “The Security Council’s failure to act decisively in defense of international peace and security is inexcusable.””  This is a quote from Sec. Pompeo, at “Pompeo lashes out as U.N. Security Council rejects extension to Iran arms embargo,” Matthew Choi, Politico, August 14, 2020.

““The Security Council’s failure to act decisively in defense of international peace and security is inexcusable,” U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement. China’s U.N. Ambassador Zhang Jun said in a statement after the vote that the result “once again shows that unilateralism receives no support and bullying will fail.” The United States could now follow through on a threat to trigger a return of all U.N. sanctions on Iran using a provision in the nuclear deal, known as snapback, even though President Donald Trump abandoned the accord in 2018. Diplomats have said the United States could do this as early as next week, but would face a tough, messy battle.”  See “U.S. loses Iran arms embargo bid as Putin pushes summit to avoid nuclear deal showdown,” Michelle Nichols and Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber, Reuters, August 14, 2020.

The UN itself becomes an enabler for the Regime’s terrorism.  “The Security Council “rejected a reasonable resolution to extend the 13-year old arms embargo on Iran and paved the way for the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism to buy and sell conventional weapons without specific UN restrictions in place for the first time in over a decade,” Pompeo said in a statement. “The Security Council’s failure to act decisively in defense of international peace and security is inexcusable.””  This is a quote from Sec. Pompeo, at “Pompeo lashes out as U.N. Security Council rejects extension to Iran arms embargo,” Matthew Choi, Politico, August 14, 2020.

““The Security Council’s failure to act decisively in defense of international peace and security is inexcusable,” U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement. China’s U.N. Ambassador Zhang Jun said in a statement after the vote that the result “once again shows that unilateralism receives no support and bullying will fail.” The United States could now follow through on a threat to trigger a return of all U.N. sanctions on Iran using a provision in the nuclear deal, known as snapback, even though President Donald Trump abandoned the accord in 2018. Diplomats have said the United States could do this as early as next week, but would face a tough, messy battle.”  See “U.S. loses Iran arms embargo bid as Putin pushes summit to avoid nuclear deal showdown,” Michelle Nichols and Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber, Reuters, August 14, 2020.

One of the biggest events of the year occurred today (we need good news in 2020!)–Israel and the UAE agreed to normalize relations.  Now, three Arab states have agreed to peace with Israel, and this is important to long-term peace in the Middle East.  Congratulations to President Trump, Prime Minister Netanyahu, and Crown Prince Al-Nahyan.  This agreement will greatly concern Iran and its plans for a Shia Crescent.  “Sources in Washington and Jerusalem said the Trump administration is in talks with other Gulf States to reach normalization agreements with Israel.  Bahrain is likely to be next.”  This is due to Israel’s “suspension” of assertions of sovereignty in the West Bank.  It is a brilliant act of diplomacy and international relations.  Finally, it cannot but be observed in this agreement that freedom is still the aim of the world, no matter where one lives.  See “Israel, UAE reach historic peace deal: ‘We can make a wonderful future’,” Lahav Harkov and Omri Nahmias, Jerusalem Post, August 13, 2020.

Iran’s movement into Syria forced this.  The IDF “has carried out about 1,000 airstrikes in Syria since 2017, most of them against Iranian and Hezbollah targets, as part of a campaign to hinder the establishment of Iranian strongholds in Syria and Hezbollah’s precision-guided missile project.  See “Israel Attacked 1,000 Iranian and Hezbollah Targets in Syria Since 2017,” Yaniv Kubovich, Haaretz, August 13, 2020.

No more Iranian oil goes to Venezuela!  The U.S. has been successful in enforcing sanctions, even if on the high seas.  “Officials: U.S. seizes Iranian gas heading for Venezuela,” AP, WTOC, August 13, 2020.  See also “Ship owners sailing four Iranian fuel cargoes to U.S. for seizure – sources,” Jonathan Saul and Marianna Parraga, Reuters, August 13, 2020.

Now it has become known that the U.S. has legally seized not only oil from terror-organized Iran, but also has legally seized crypto from crime-organized terror groups.  Take a bite out of crime!  “U.S. seizes $2 million from more than 300 cryptocurrency accounts used by terror groups,” Amanda Macias, CNBC, August 13, 2020.

There were a number of anti-U.S. and anti-Brian Hook articles when his resignation was announced.  Here’s one.  In light of the Aug. 13 announcement of the UAE (!) to recognize Israel, I wonder if IFP will issue a retraction.  Otherwise it is an enabler.  See “Hook’s Resignation Triggered by Failure of Anti-Iran Efforts: Analyst,” IFP Editorial Staff, August 11, 2020.   And see “US Iran envoy says peace between Israel and Arabs is Tehran’s ‘worst nightmare’,” Zachary Halaschak, Washington Examiner, August 13, 2020.

Very true.  “What will be left will be a new potential for a growing regional anti-Iran coalition, a major strategic setback for Tehran. Along those same lines, it is a strategic opportunity for the other Gulf states. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and even Qatar will likely wait to see the outcome of the coming diplomacy between the UAE and Israel and the exact contours of the resulting normalization agreement.”  See “A rare strategic victory—for everyone except Iran,” William Wechsler, Atlantic Council, August 13, 2020.

IAEA reportedly says Iran is moving advanced centrifuges to the nuclear facility targeted by mysterious blast in July, to set up new cascades.  See “Iran said readying to ratchet up enrichment at Natanz, violating nuke deal,” Times of Israel, August 13, 2020.

“Lithuania designates Hezbollah as a terrorist organization,” Edwardsville Intelligencer, August 13, 2020.

“Iranian official reveals claims of corruption at highest levels,” Al Monitor, August 13, 2020.  “Parviz Fattah, an official under former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s administration (2005-13), gave an interview to Iranian state TV on Aug. 1 that continues to rock Iranian media, even leading to speculation of a run for the presidency. A former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) member who served as Ahmadinejad’s energy minister and as head of the Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation for four years, Fattah has since 2019 been head of the Mostazafan Foundation, a charitable organization that is often described as the second wealthiest institution in Iran next to the Oil Ministry. In his time at the foundation, he has already become a household name. What has made Fattah the headlines of several newspapers and the top story on several websites is not his past job experiences but his very frank conversations about the one thing that remains on every Iranian’s mind: corruption. During the television interview, the soft-spoken and mild-mannered Fattah called out corruption at some of the top institutions in the Islamic Republic. … The interview continues to make waves in Iranian media because very rarely will a top official, chosen by the supreme leader, criticize other individuals or organizations that operate under the supreme leader. Typically when such things are done, it is to settle intra-party or partisan scores. However, that a conservative figure like Fattah claimed corruption against other conservatives has caught many by surprise. And Iranian media outlets, despite quoting him as saying that he has no political ambition and he only wishes to serve his job as head of the foundation, continue to speculate about whether the interview suggests he has political ambitions for the 2021 presidential election.”  This is an unusual move by the Supreme Leader, who controls Mostazafan, and indicates he must be wanting to put aside selected opponents.

“U.S. Says Iran Forces Boarded Ship in International Waters,” Sebastian Tong, Stephen Stapczynski, and Kevin Varley, Bloomberg, August 12, 2020.

This article details some of the bad actors Iran uses to spread weapons and ideology in the Crescent.  It is up to the UN and its interested member states to keep this list as up to date as possible.  And enforce it.  “Renew the Travel Ban on Iran,” Jason Brodsky, op-ed, Newsweek, August 12, 2020.

Call it a Revolution or Resistance.  “The head of the Political Bureau of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Yadallah Jawani, revealed the “main reason” for the assassination of the commander of the Quds Force, General Qassem Soleimani, by the U.S., claiming that “it was a strategic goal through which they sought to stop the resistance in the region and change the course of developments that were in the interest of the resistance.””  See “Iran’s IRGC Reveals ‘Main Reason’ Qassem Soleimani Was Assassinated,” Kashmir Observer, August 12, 2020.