Such a huge story, and a good story about how a country (Sudan) can continue to leave terror behind and its ties to the terror sponsored by Iran, which used Sudan to ferry missiles, etc. to Gaza. These are conscious decisions by country leaders, and Sudan moves toward being “normal” by taking this step. See “Trump to Remove Sudan From List of Countries That Sponsor Terrorism,” Andrew Restuccia and Courtney McBride, Wall Street Journal, October 19, 2020.
But now that we’ve mentioned the great win for peace that the Sudan story portends, “Whack a Mole” continues with the next story in today’s blogging. China has long looked the other way or facilitated illicit trade between NK and Iran, and the new enhanced relationship with Iran that will stretch over 25 years presents another terror threat to the Middle East and beyond. So here it is, oil for missiles—Iran and North Korea trade, overseen by China. “Following the end on the 18th of October of the 13-year United Nations’ embargo on Iran buying or selling weapons, the roll-out of the military component of the 25-year deal between China and Iran will begin in November, … feature the deployment in Iran of North Korean weaponry and technology, in exchange for oil, according to sources very close to the Iranian government spoken to by OilPrice.com last week. Most notably this would include Hwasong-12 mobile ballistic missiles, with a range of 4,500 kilometres, and the development of liquid propellant rocket engines suitable for intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) or satellite launch vehicles (SLVs). This will all be part of a broader triangular relationship co-ordinated by Beijing and further facilitated by the imminent launch of a new digitised currency system by China.” See “Iran To Import North Korean missiles In 25-Year Military Deal With China,” Simon Watkins, OilPrice.com, October 19, 2020.
Iran and China continue to ignore sanctions. “U.S. blacklists Chinese entities, individuals for dealing with Iran,” Reuters, October 19, 2020.
“’Operation Quicksand’: Iran-linked Hackers Target Israel in ‘New Cyberwar Phase’,” Omer Benjakob, Haaertz, October 19, 2020.
Bad news for India, but actually bad news for the region. As Iran sides more with China, and produces things more by itself, it is leaving good relationships with actors like India. “Iran Boots Out India From Huge Gas Field Development,” Tsvetana Paraskova, OilPrice.com, October 19, 2020.
It is a little hard to read between the lines here since the message has two contradictory components—we will punish you for siding with Israel, but we are for security agreements with our neighboring states. Because there is little real interaction between the Arab/Sunni states on the west side of the Persian Gulf and Iran on the east side, thus no foundation to create the opportunity for peace treaties. Instead, the component of this story that is really news is that the Defense Minister really means it when he threatens the western Gulf states who have the temerity to come to peace with the Jewish state. See “Iran says ready to sign “military, security” agreements with Gulf states,” Xinhua, October 19, 2020.
Quds Force. “Ehsan Bidi, the Iranian Regime’s Intelligence Agent Officially Expelled From Albania,” NCRI, October 19, 2020.
337 confirmed dead Monday. “Iran again breaks its single-day record for coronavirus deaths,” Gulf Today, October 19, 2020.
“Iran Has No Frozen Assets in China,” Financial Tribune, October 19, 2020.
“Iran ranks 158 out of 162 countries and territories under review in Fraser Institute’s Economic Freedom of the World: 2020 Annual Report, down 15 spots from 143rd in the previous year’s index.” See “Iran Ranking Drops in Fraser’s Economic Freedom Index,” Financial Tribune, October 19, 2020.