We all want Iran to move toward the normalcy, certainly the relative normalcy, of some of its neighbors to the West across the Gulf. Bahrain is one of those countries who refuses to enable Iran’s revolutionary path. “Exclusive: Biden must consult Gulf states before new Iran deal, Bahrain foreign minister says,” Barak Ravid, Barak Ravid, Axios, November 18, 2020.
“Rockets apparently fired by Iran-backed Iraqi militia hit US complex in Baghdad,” Karen DeYoung, Louisa Loveluck, and Ellen Nakashima, Guam Daily Post, Washington Post, November 18, 2020.
“Iran’s Most-wanted Terrorist & Former Pak Army Conspirator Killed; Had Abducted Kulbhushan,” Republic World, November 18, 2020. “In a massive development, Pakistani police have allegedly killed Iran’s top wanted terrorist and their own military’s former conspirator Mulla Omar in Turbat city of Balochistan. As per media reports, he used to work for Pakistan Army and was the one who kidnapped and handed over Kulbhushan Jadhav to Pakistan. He has been killed days after Iran’s FM Javad Zarif met senior Pakistan Army leadership, allegedly at the behest of the Pak Army.”
“Bonyad Mostazafan is ostensibly a charitable organization charged with providing benefits to the poor and oppressed. Its holdings are expropriated from the Iranian people and are used by the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to enrich his office, reward his political allies and persecute the regime’s enemies.” See “In New Iran Sanctions, US Targets Khamenei-Controlled Foundation,” VOA, November 18, 2020.
“Iran feeds uranium gas into advanced centrifuges underground -IAEA report,” Francois Murphy, Reuters, November 18, 2020. But what the headline doesn’t say about violation the article quickly announces—“ Iran has fired up advanced uranium-enriching centrifuges that it had installed underground at its Natanz site, in the latest breach of its nuclear deal with major powers, a report by the U.N. atomic watchdog obtained by Reuters on Wednesday showed. Natanz is Iran’s main uranium-enrichment site and the one that U.S. President Donald Trump recently asked for options on attacking, according to a source who confirmed a New York Times report. The deal states that Iran can only accumulate enriched uranium with first-generation IR-1 machines and that those are the only centrifuges it can operate at its underground plant at Natanz, apparently built to withstand aerial bombardment.”
After Iran planted explosives close to an Israeli military base in the Golan Heights. “Israel strikes widely in Syria, sending signal of aggressive post-Trump posture,” Reuters, November 18, 2020.
“Iranian Christian gets 80 lashes for drinking Communion wine,” Benjamin Weinthal, Jerusalem Post, November 18, 2020.