“The Russian-Iranian Partnership: An Eternal Honeymoon,” Ghoncheh Tazmini, Valdai Discussion Club, August 19, 2020.
All we know at present. “Hezbollah has received large quantities of ammonium nitrate from Iran, the same substance that caused the massive explosion at the port of Beirut earlier this month. This is according to a report by the German news agency DEWALT.” See “Hezbollah received shipments from Iran of the chemical that exploded in Beirut,” Zeev Avrahami|, Ynet, August 19, 2020.
“The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology is going to launch five satellites in cooperation with the Defence Ministry by the end of the year (March 2021).” See “Iran Says Planning to Launch 5 New Satellites by March 2021,” IFP, August 19, 2020.
“Pro-Iran Groups Escalate Violence as Iraq PM Heads to US,” AFP, The Defense Post, August 19, 2020.
The UN investigation of the assassination of PM Hariri has failed. Here are three articles. Only one person was held accountable–no Hezbollah, no Iran, no one. “Hezbollah Still Has a Knife at Lebanon’s Throat After Hariri Verdict,” Oz Katerji, Foreign Policy, August 19, 2020; “Tribunal Convicts Hezbollah Member in Hariri Assassination, Acquits Three Others,” Jared Malsin, Wall Street Journal, August 18, 2020. “Shattered Lebanon finds little peace in Hariri verdict,” Najia Houssari, Arab News, August 19, 2020.
Under the terms of Security Council Resolution 2231, which enshrined the nuclear deal and to which the U.S. remains a party, the invocation of snapback for significant Iranian noncompliance starts a 30-day clock during which the council must vote affirmatively to continue the sanctions relief that Iran was given in return for curbs on its nuclear program. Pompeo is expected to present evidence of significant noncompliance, likely the latest reports of the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), on Thursday. Iran does not deny violating some terms of the deal but says its actions have been forced by the U.S. withdrawal and the Trump administration’s reimposition of U.S. sanctions. See “US to demand UN sanctions for Iran in complicated procedure that evades veto, “ AP, Daily Sabah, August 19, 2020.
“The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology is going to launch five satellites in cooperation with the Defence Ministry by the end of the year (March 2021).” See “Iran Says Planning to Launch 5 New Satellites by March 2021,” IFP, August 19, 2020.
“Pro-Iran Groups Escalate Violence as Iraq PM Heads to US,” AFP, The Defense Post, August 19, 2020.
“U.S. imposes sanctions on two UAE-based companies for aiding Iran’s biggest airline,” Amanda Macias, CNBC, August 19, 2020.