Despite the drill in Hormuz, if you step back and think about it, the situation can even be described as comical. Almost a dozen explosions over the past month that Iran cannot explain, and their only recourse is to tow a barge into Hormuz and shoot at a sitting duck. This is a very low-tech shooting range, and so unsophisticated compared to the external or internal agent(s) that have afflicted the Regime during July. See “Iran launches underground ballistic missiles during exercise,” Amir Vahdat and Jon Gambrell, AP, July 29, 2020.
Talk about funny money. Well, the economics of it will eventually dry up this market except for criminal enterprises. “Power Plants in Iran Now Authorized to Mine Bitcoin,” Kevin Helms, Bitcoin.com, July 29, 2020.
Ashura yes, funerals no. “Iran to Hold Religious Gatherings and Exams Despite Virus Surge,” Golnar Motevalli and Arsalan Shahla, Bloomberg, July 29, 2020.
Iran has allowed one of its militias in Iraq, Harakat Hezbollah Al-Nujaba, to use Telegram to threaten the UK ambassador in Baghdad, Stephen Hickey. “UK envoy to Iraq threatened by pro-Iran militias,” Arab News, July 29, 2020.
“Iran records 196 more deaths from COVID-19,” Muhammet Kursun, AA, July 29, 2020.
It took just over a year. But that is fast compared to the years that Brits, Americans, and many other persons, who have committed no crime, are being held by Iran. The Regime most likely traded something to Pakistan for these people. But it goes to show that Iran will release on “humanitarian” grounds if it so decides. See “Iran extradites 14 Pakistani inmates,” Trend, July 29, 2020.
“The Foreign Minister of Luxembourg, Jean Asselborn, has written to Iran’s Foreign Minister, Muhammad Javad Zarif, condemning the recent escalation of the persecution of the Baha’is in Iran, the largest non-Muslim religious minority in the country. The letter is part of a new wave of support for Iran’s Baha’is by Members of the European Parliament (EP) as well as numerous parliamentarians and prominent figures in Germany, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Finland and Ireland.” See “Foreign Minister of Luxembourg Writes to Iranian Counterpart in Wave of Support for Iran’s Persecuted Baha’is,” Iran Press Watch, July 29, 2020.