For those of us harboring hope to peacefully climb Damavand one day—“In an odd and unprecedented ruling Iran’s Supreme Court has handed over the ownership of part of the country’s highest mountain, Mount Damavand, to an organization that operates under the direct supervision of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Hamshahri newspaper in Tehran reported on Sunday July 26 that an official title deed has been issued to Iran’s Endowments Organization for one eleventh (1/11th) of Mount Damavand and the slopes leading to the summit. The “endowment” title deed gives 18,000 hectares (45,000 acres) of highlands to the organization which is part of Iran’s Culture Ministry, but its chief is directly appointed by Khamenei and is the administrative body in charge of shrines and holy sites and appoints clerics in charge of endowments it acquires. The Endowments Organization on Sunday afternoon denied the issuance of such a title deed and explained what has been donated is a pasture at the foot of the mountain, not part of the summit. But it is not clear who endowed such a large area and if the land already belonged to the state and simply deeded to organization that clerics control. Based on traditions and rules of the religious canon Shariah, endowments are “bequeathed for pious use” such as habitations for the poor and books for the use of learned men and women. Traditionally, many schools, water reservoirs, gardens, farmlands and other public facilities are part of the “endowments” bequeathed to be used for the good of the public. The ruling by the Iranian Supreme Court has been met with objections by environmentalists and members of the public. Mohammad Rajab Ali Pisheh, an official at the Natural Resources Office of Mazandaran Province told Hamshahri that the ruling has been issued without consulting the Forests and Pastures Organization. Meanwhile, the former chief of Iran’s Environment Protection Organization, Massoumeh Ebtekar has said in a tweet that what has been done is “against the Constitutional Law.” She said that the summit of Mount Damavand has been put under the protection of the Environment Protection Organization in 2002 and that based on the law, “the summit may not be delegated or exploited as real estate.” … Some Iranians on social media have said that the land has been given to the Friday Prayer Imam of Sari in Mazandaran Province to be used for development and building villas. The director General of Natural Resources Office in Mazandaran has called on Judiciary Chief Ebrahim Raeesi to intervene in the matter and avert the decision. The Judiciary has still not reacted to the appeal. … Reports in recent years have estimated the annual income of 1,800,000 endowments under the organization’s control as more than 10 trillion rials or around $240 milion. According to Iranian media, the organization’s officials have never released a transparent report about its financial status and transactions. Almost all large organizations with business activities under the supervision of clerics and the Supreme Leader are never audited in a transparent fashion.”  See “Court Donates Part of Iran’s Highest Mountain To A Religious Organization,” Radio Farda, July 26, 2020.

Died on Saturday.  “Iran: 260 new virus deaths rise tally to 15,700,” Muhammet Kursun, AA, July 26, 2020.

“An alarming anniversary: The Iran deal, 5 years later,” David Weinberg, op-ed, Israel Hayom, July 26, 2020.  Weinberg takes the position that the 2015 JCPOA emboldened Iran’s hegemonic march across the Middle East, and has not halted Iran’s march towards nuclear weapons.

“A China-Iran partnership would make China the Middle East arbiter,” Dov Zakheim, op-ed, The Hill, July 26, 2020.  Zakheim makes a compelling argument that China will become the decision-maker for the Middle East, at least as far as Iran is involved.  And “Despite America’s major military presence in the region, in practice it will be China that will mediate between Tehran and Jerusalem in order to ensure that its sources of oil, gas and technology remain stable and secure.”

“Hezbollah will try to attack Israel’s gas rigs, top naval official warns,” Hanan Greenwood, Israel Hayom, July 26, 2020.

A threat against Jordan by Iran.  “Nour News also threatened Jordan that its support for U.S. military operations can have “consequences” and demanded Jordan’s chargé d’affaires in Tehran be summoned.”  “Iran Unofficially Accuses Jordan Of ‘Role’ In Interception Of Iran Airliner,” Radio Farda, July 26, 2020.