Monday there were 62 deaths, reported on Tuesday.  “Iran Reports Over 2,100 New Virus Cases,” AFP, May 19, 2020.

“Russia, Iran step up telephone diplomacy amid pandemic, says envoy,” TASS, May 19, 2020.

“U.S. Sanctions Chinese Company, Alleges Ties to Iran’s Mahan Air,” Mangqi Sun, Wall Street Journal, May 19, 2020.

This story is confusing, that the U.S. would set only 100 meters as the red line—that is so very close to an American military vessel, and we all remember the USS Cole.  The Navy retains, as always, the right of self-defense.  Perhaps this 100m circle was a compromise with the WH that a line would be drawn somewhere.  I would have put it 1,000 yards for these harassing missile speed boats of Iran.  See “Eyeing Iran, US warns to stay 100 metres away from its warships,” Al Jazeera, May 19, 2020.

See also, “US Navy issues new guidelines after close Iran encounters,” Jon Gambrell, AP, VOA, May 19, 2020.

“Israel behind cyberattack that caused ‘total disarray’ at Iran port – report,” Times of Israel, May 19, 2020.  This is in retaliation for Iran attempting to disable Israeli water Mekorot infrastructure two weeks earlier in April on 24-25, an attack against civilians—water and sewer.  The cyber action against Shahid Rajaee port terminal at Bandar Abbas on May 9 crashed computers that regulate the flow of vessels, trucks, and goods, creating massive backups on waterways and roads leading to the facility, the Washington Post reports and picked up by TOI.

Limited cooperation?  The NYT continues in its worldview, misunderstanding the Regime.  At least they quoted Brian Hook correctly that pressure works.  (can you say “Soleimani?”)  Last, let me include this—my blog documents for several years the machinations of the Supreme Leader and the IRI government, and those actions are not well reflected in this analysis by The Times.  See “Iran Quietly Lowers the Temperature With U.S.,” Alissa Rubin and Farnaz Fassihi, New York Times, May 19, 2020.

“Iran Launches ‘Resistance’ Award Named After Soleimani,” Asharq Al-Awsat, May 19, 2020.  I am not making this up – and there is no other award like this in the world handed out by terrorist groups to honor a terrorist.  “The award is granted in the main category of “struggle and resistance” and six sub-fields of “people and society”, “culture and art”, “politics”, “education and research”, “media”, and “sports”. A 19-member body would oversee the award to be held biennially. The body consists of representatives from militias and factions allied with Tehran including Lebanese Hezbollah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine Jihad, and Houthis. It also includes, inter alia, the Islamic Republic’s Foreign Minister, and the head of the state-run Radio and Television Organization.”

“Iran’s Rouhani Says Country Needs ‘Two Or Three Main Political Parties’,” Radio Farda, May 19, 2020.

So notice what is happening here—the world’s largest sponsor of terror (who already supports the Palestinians and Hamas and Islamic Jihad) openly calls for countries to ship weapons to the Palestinians.  How brazen.  Will they be called out?  “Iran’s Khamenei calls to “arm” Palestinians,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, May 19, 2020.

What is going on here?  Who are these people?  What connections do they have to the government?  Where did they get the money?  This Iranian couple has been sentenced to death for having smuggled hard currency and laundering $200 million of money, as well as having been found with a stash of gold at their home. “Iran’s judiciary sentences couple to death over money laundering and gold hoard,” KFGO, Thomson Reuters, May 19, 2020.