One of the biggest events of the year occurred today (we need good news in 2020!)–Israel and the UAE agreed to normalize relations. Now, three Arab states have agreed to peace with Israel, and this is important to long-term peace in the Middle East. Congratulations to President Trump, Prime Minister Netanyahu, and Crown Prince Al-Nahyan. This agreement will greatly concern Iran and its plans for a Shia Crescent. “Sources in Washington and Jerusalem said the Trump administration is in talks with other Gulf States to reach normalization agreements with Israel. Bahrain is likely to be next.” This is due to Israel’s “suspension” of assertions of sovereignty in the West Bank. It is a brilliant act of diplomacy and international relations. Finally, it cannot but be observed in this agreement that freedom is still the aim of the world, no matter where one lives. See “Israel, UAE reach historic peace deal: ‘We can make a wonderful future’,” Lahav Harkov and Omri Nahmias, Jerusalem Post, August 13, 2020.
Iran’s movement into Syria forced this. The IDF “has carried out about 1,000 airstrikes in Syria since 2017, most of them against Iranian and Hezbollah targets, as part of a campaign to hinder the establishment of Iranian strongholds in Syria and Hezbollah’s precision-guided missile project. See “Israel Attacked 1,000 Iranian and Hezbollah Targets in Syria Since 2017,” Yaniv Kubovich, Haaretz, August 13, 2020.
No more Iranian oil goes to Venezuela! The U.S. has been successful in enforcing sanctions, even if on the high seas. “Officials: U.S. seizes Iranian gas heading for Venezuela,” AP, WTOC, August 13, 2020. See also “Ship owners sailing four Iranian fuel cargoes to U.S. for seizure – sources,” Jonathan Saul and Marianna Parraga, Reuters, August 13, 2020.
Now it has become known that the U.S. has legally seized not only oil from terror-organized Iran, but also has legally seized crypto from crime-organized terror groups. Take a bite out of crime! “U.S. seizes $2 million from more than 300 cryptocurrency accounts used by terror groups,” Amanda Macias, CNBC, August 13, 2020.
There were a number of anti-U.S. and anti-Brian Hook articles when his resignation was announced. Here’s one. In light of the Aug. 13 announcement of the UAE (!) to recognize Israel, I wonder if IFP will issue a retraction. Otherwise it is an enabler. See “Hook’s Resignation Triggered by Failure of Anti-Iran Efforts: Analyst,” IFP Editorial Staff, August 11, 2020. And see “US Iran envoy says peace between Israel and Arabs is Tehran’s ‘worst nightmare’,” Zachary Halaschak, Washington Examiner, August 13, 2020.
Very true. “What will be left will be a new potential for a growing regional anti-Iran coalition, a major strategic setback for Tehran. Along those same lines, it is a strategic opportunity for the other Gulf states. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and even Qatar will likely wait to see the outcome of the coming diplomacy between the UAE and Israel and the exact contours of the resulting normalization agreement.” See “A rare strategic victory—for everyone except Iran,” William Wechsler, Atlantic Council, August 13, 2020.
IAEA reportedly says Iran is moving advanced centrifuges to the nuclear facility targeted by mysterious blast in July, to set up new cascades. See “Iran said readying to ratchet up enrichment at Natanz, violating nuke deal,” Times of Israel, August 13, 2020.
“Lithuania designates Hezbollah as a terrorist organization,” Edwardsville Intelligencer, August 13, 2020.
“Iranian official reveals claims of corruption at highest levels,” Al Monitor, August 13, 2020. “Parviz Fattah, an official under former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s administration (2005-13), gave an interview to Iranian state TV on Aug. 1 that continues to rock Iranian media, even leading to speculation of a run for the presidency. A former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) member who served as Ahmadinejad’s energy minister and as head of the Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation for four years, Fattah has since 2019 been head of the Mostazafan Foundation, a charitable organization that is often described as the second wealthiest institution in Iran next to the Oil Ministry. In his time at the foundation, he has already become a household name. What has made Fattah the headlines of several newspapers and the top story on several websites is not his past job experiences but his very frank conversations about the one thing that remains on every Iranian’s mind: corruption. During the television interview, the soft-spoken and mild-mannered Fattah called out corruption at some of the top institutions in the Islamic Republic. … The interview continues to make waves in Iranian media because very rarely will a top official, chosen by the supreme leader, criticize other individuals or organizations that operate under the supreme leader. Typically when such things are done, it is to settle intra-party or partisan scores. However, that a conservative figure like Fattah claimed corruption against other conservatives has caught many by surprise. And Iranian media outlets, despite quoting him as saying that he has no political ambition and he only wishes to serve his job as head of the foundation, continue to speculate about whether the interview suggests he has political ambitions for the 2021 presidential election.” This is an unusual move by the Supreme Leader, who controls Mostazafan, and indicates he must be wanting to put aside selected opponents.