So, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed with the U.S. to make this deal happen. “Two Americans held hostage by Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen were freed on Wednesday as part of a U.S.-backed trade that returned more than 200 of the group’s loyalists to the fractured Middle East country, according to U.S. and Saudi officials. A Royal Oman Air Force plane carrying the two Americans and the remains of a third flew out of Yemen’s Houthi-controlled capital of Sana’a, hours after the jet and a companion flight brought the militants back to the country following years stuck in Oman. The deal secured freedom for Sandra Loli, an American humanitarian worker held hostage by the Houthis for 16 months, and Mikael Gidada, a U.S. businessman held for more than a year, said Kash Patel, a deputy assistant to President Trump who worked on the deal. The pact also included the return of the remains of Bilal Fateen, a third American who had been held by the Houthis. U.S. officials provided only limited information on the three Americans, but said they worked urgently to secure the deal because Ms. Loli’s health was in decline. The deal also included delivery of medical aid for Yemen. Saudi officials said they reluctantly backed the deal, which they said would permit dozens of Houthi militants trained on advanced drones and missiles to return to the battle zone. Mr. Patel said the U.S. worked to ensure that Houthis returning to Yemen didn’t pose a major risk.” See “Two Americans Held Hostage by Iran-Backed Forces in Yemen Freed in Trade,” Dion Nissenbaum, Wall Street Journal, October 14, 2020.
279 died on Tuesday. “Iran virus death toll hits record high, 3rd time in a week,” Amir Vahdat and Samya Kullab, AP, October 14, 2020.
Ask—what steps by the government are needed to sell pistachios? Otherwise the crop will be lost for a second year. “Iranian Pistachio Farmers’ Livelihood in Danger,” Collin Jason, Iran Focus, October 14, 2020.
The IMF doesn’t say in this article why Iran’s economy will grow 3.2% in 2021, which is an unusual number because Iran is underwater right now. I say it is the purchase of oil by China. “IMF Predicts Iran Economy to Return to Growth in 2021,” Financial Tribune, October 14, 2020.
“Iran’s Sanction Busting Pipeline Is Just Months From Completion,” Simon Watkins, OilPrice.com, October 14, 2020. Again, thank you China. “Last week, though, it was confirmed by the Petroleum Engineering and Development Company (PEDEC) that the first phase of the game-changing Goreh-Jask oil pipeline project will come on stream by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (ending on 20 March, 2021). Specifically, according to PEDEC’s Goreh-Jask pipeline project director, Ali Jafarzadeh, the testing of the pumping houses and the final terminal will begin within the next two months and end in early February. After that, the first phase of the pipeline’s operations will begin, with the capacity to transfer 350,000 barrels per day (bpd) of light, heavy, and ultra-heavy crude oil through the 1,100 km-long, 46 inch diameter pipeline that runs from the Goreh oil terminal in the north-west Bushehr Province to Mobarak Mount in the western Jask region along the Sea of Oman. This will have involved the construction and deployment of 83 42-inch valves relating to the gate, control and emergency shut-off functions in the pipeline project, six smaller pipelines, five pump houses, three stations for receiving and sending pipeline pigs, 10 power stations, 400 kilometres of transmission lines, three single point moorings, subsea pipelines, and a stilling basin.”
Iran doubles down, but does not address the evidence. “Iran slams new allegations against arrested diplomat in Belgium,” Maziar Motamedi, Al Jazeera, October 14, 2020.
“Rouhani celebrates end of Iran arms embargo,” Al Monitor, October 14, 2020.
Decisions Iran continues to make. “Iran-China-Russia Axis Threatens US and Israeli Interests,” Douglas Fraser, The Defense Post, October 14, 2020.
“Afghanistan and Iran: From water treaty to water dispute,” Said Hashmat Sadat and Nasrat Sayed, The Interpreter, October 14, 2020.