“The shadowy Iran ayatollah who is being ‘vilified’,” Iran International, 7-22-24.

“To Secure the Red Sea, Sink Iran’s Navy,” WSJ, 7-22-24.  “Attacking the Houthis hasn’t kept up with the pace of Tehran’s resupply effort.”  …  “This carries the risk of escalation, but history shows that Iran typically backs down when attacked. Iran backtracked in 1988, after the Reagan administration sank roughly half of its navy, and in 2020, after the Trump administration killed Qasem Soleimani, which halted Iran’s proxy attacks for months.”

“Iran’s IRGC intercepts UAE-managed tanker, Ambrey says,” Iran International, 7-22-24.  “The interception was likely a counter-smuggling operation by the IRGC, as the vessel’s “trading behavior was consistent with previous IRGC target profile.”  …  “The Betelgeuse vessel, along with its 12 crew members of Indian and Sri Lankan nationality, has been transferred to Bushehr anchorage and is under supervision,” the agency quoted the statement as saying.  …  Iran, which has some of the world’s cheapest fuel prices due to heavy subsidies and the plunge in the value of its currency, has been fighting rampant fuel smuggling by land to neighboring countries and by sea to Persian Gulf Arab states.”

“Iran seizes Togo-flagged oil tanker in Persian Gulf for ‘fuel smuggling’,” AA, 7-22-24.