On Oct. 18, unfortunately the UN Security Council weapons embargo on Iran is lifted.  This means that the international community can sell weapons to Iran and it can greatly strengthen its military.  Iran can also (legally) sell weapons to other states.  “Conventional arms embargo on Iran set to end: What’s next?,” Maziar Motamedi, Al Jazeera, October 17, 2020.

This is the plane crash that never ends.  These talks will extend over three days—just how long was it since Iran shot down the Ukrainian commercial jet liner and promised to fully cooperate in the investigation?  And to fully compensate?  And to turn over the blackbox?  “Bloomberg: Iran, Ukraine to hold plane crash talks in Tehran,” Bloomberg. Published Oct. 17, 2020.

Iran again claims that its missile program is lawful under self-defense and international law.  They do not address the specific points made by the U.S. and multiple other states on the myriad of reasons this is not true.  “UN Envoy: Iran’s Missile Program Legitimate, Developed for Self-Defense,” Tasnim News Agency, October, 17, 2020.

“Conventional arms embargo on Iran set to end: What’s next?,” Maziar Motamedi, Al Jazeera, October 17, 2020.