“Iran’s coronavirus single-day 207 death toll highest since August 1: health ministry,” Reuters, Chronicle Herald, September 25, 2020.

“Iran unveils new ‘all-weather’ radar system,” AMN, September 25, 2020.

“Iranian Protester Dies in Custody,” Iran Focus, September 25, 2020.  “Nader Mokhtari, 35, died on Saturday in Kahrizak detention center, Tehran. His body has not yet been handed over to his family, who are being put under pressure to remain silent about his death and the cause of death. He fell into a coma after being beaten with batons by state security forces in the November 2019 protests in Karaj and for a month, his family didn’t know where he was until they found him comatose in a hospital in Tehran.”  Mokhtari has been held in a prison hospital ever since.

Thank you China.  “Iran’s oil exports jump in September defying sanctions: TankerTrackers,” Bozorgmehr Sharafedin and Alex Lawler, Reuters, September 25, 2020.

Coming in Nov. or Dec.  “Iran’s Navy to Unveil Large Helicopter Carrier in Weeks,” Tasnim News, The Iranian, September 25, 2020.

“Iranian press review: Middle East’s highest peak gravely threatened by mining,” Middle East Eye, September 24, 2020.  Environmental experts warn about irreversible impact of mining at Mount Damavand.  Each day, 500 trucks of soil are pulled from Damavand’s foothills. There is a current legal dispute between Iran’s Department of Environment and Ogaf, the country’s endowments organization, over the ownership of the foothills, which claimed the land had been donated.  But “the case has disappeared from local media after pressure from the high ranking clerics who control Iran’s endowments organization. Esmail Kahrom, Iran’s wildlife and environment expert, told the Arman daily that if the current pace of excavations continues on Mount Damavand, the highest mountain of the Middle East would face the same fate as Lake Urmia. Once the largest saltwater lake in the Middle East, Urmia has shrunk to 10 percent of its former size due to damn buildings, water mismanagement and drought.”

German officials have now banned the sale of model aircraft engines to Iran after a shipment was found in drones used by the Houthis in Yemen attacking Saudi Arabia.  Now Iran is using small engines technology that is smuggled in drones bought from Chinese makers and shipped from Xiamen to Mombasa, and there the units are smuggled to Salalah in Oman and then to Houthi strongholds.  “Germany stops Iran buying mini-engines after they were found in Houthi drones,” Damien McElroy, The National, September 24, 2020.

“What to Take Away from Iran’s Global Malware Campaign,” Hashed Out, September 24, 2020.  “The FBI recently disclosed that Iran’s intelligence agency has been using nation-state actors & a front company to carry out a years-long global malware campaign. … On Sept. 17, the FBI released a cybersecurity advisory about eight previously undisclosed sets of malware that are tied to Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS). The intelligence agency used them to monitor Iranian citizens, journalists, former government employees and dissidents (among others), as well as international companies in the academic, telecommunications, hospitality and travel sectors. This includes travel companies in the U.S. that have records of millions of travelers. The attacks, which the FBI estimates has cost “millions of dollars” to U.S. and international companies, have been ongoing for years. … MOIS … used a front company called the Rana Intelligence Computing Company (Rana), as well as nation-state actors known publicly as Advanced Persistent Threat 39 (APT 39), which also were known by a few other names including Cadelspy, Chafer, ITG07, and Remexi. … Their goal? In a nutshell, they used their vast resources to target, monitor, harass, repress and exploit anyone that they identified as a threat to the establishment.”

The new naval base will be at Sirik.  “Iran Opens Navy Base At World’s Most Crucial Oil Chokepoint,” Michael Kern, OilPrice.com, September 24, 2020.

This discussions could be held over the phone.  Wonder why not?  “Russian, Iranian top diplomats to meet in Moscow for discussions on nuclear deal,” TASS, September 24, 2020.

“Iran’s Zarif tries to form Russia-China alliance against US,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, September 24, 2020.

It is normal for countries to conduct surveillance on each other.  It is not normal to use that as a threat.  “Iran claims its drones shadowed Nimitz strike group in Strait of Hormuz,” Howard Altman and Meghann Myers, Navy Times, September 23, 2020.

“The hacking of Iran’s hackers,” Zach Dorfman, Axios, September 23, 2020.

The article means that Iran still doesn’t know what happened.  “Iran says ‘internal agents’ may be responsible for Natanz blast,” Maziar Motamedi, Al Jazeera, September 22, 2020.

“Zaghari-Ratcliffe files report of Revolutionary Guards harassment,” Patrick Wintour, The Guardian, September 22,  2020.

It looks like the U.S. will pressure Germany’s government and businesses to stop “doing business” with Iran.  “US accuses Merkel of failing to combat Iran’s terrorism and antisemitism,” Benjamin Weinthal, Jerusalem Post, September 22, 2020.

Smart guy—maybe the Leader is handing out Biden bumper stickers.  “According to several US officials cited in a New York Times report, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has vetoed any attack that could trigger a confrontation with the Trump administration before Nov. 3.”  But please read this headline from today together with the next headline.  “Report: Iran showing restraint in Gulf in effort to make Trump lose election,” AP, Israel Hayom, September 21, 2020.  Per U.S. officials cited by the NYT, Leader Khamenei has vetoed any attack that might trigger a conflict with the Trump administration before election Nov. 3, not wanting overt warfare which could help Trump be re-elected, but has authorized ongoing cyberattacks.  And see the contrasting but also true headline, showing Iran’s continuing behavior at “Iran says ready for arms exports after termination of UN embargo,” Xinhua, September 21, 2020.

“Report: N. Korea, Iran Resume Cooperation on Long-range Missile Project,” KBS World, September 21, 2020.

A threat.  If you make peace, you will get attacked.  “Iran: Normalization with Israel Accelerates the End of the Bahrain Regime,” Michael Segall, Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, September 21, 2020.

“Iran’s Rouhani says US faces defeat in bid to reimpose UN sanctions,” Reuters, September 20, 2020.  And similar, “No U.N. support for reimposing Iran sanctions, secretary-general says,” AP, Politico, September 20, 2020.

“Jailed Iran human rights lawyer hospitalised after hunger strike,” Al Jazeera, September 20, 2020.

Bahrain said the foiled attacks were planned to avenge the January killing of Gen Soleimani.  “It said security forces foiled the plot after finding an explosive device in the Badei area meant to target a visiting foreign delegation. The newspaper said a case was being prepared against 18 accused individuals, of whom nine are now in Iran.”  See “Bahrain says foiled ‘terrorist attack’ backed by Iran in early 2020,” Akhar al-Khaleej, Reuters, September 20, 2020.

“Iran starts five-year tobacco-free national plan,” Tehran Times, September 20, 2020.

Latest news article about Iran and its decisions compared to other states.  “When Iran regime changes its behavior, there’ll be chance for true global stability in region: Pompeo,” Evie Fordham, Fox, September 20, 2020.

At the time in January, multiple accounts of Iran had high level personnel including the Leader the that revenge had been taken against the U.S. for the killing of Gen. Soleimani.  They used ballistic missiles against U.S. bases/personnel in Iraq.  But, as often with the Regime it is unclear where lines are, and now the pressure of the UAE and Bahrain agreements are making them issue more threats (and plans, such as threats to kill the SA Ambassador).  Today’s statement is from IRGC Gen. Salami.  BTW, an aside, this article (from AP) like so many does not identify the AP reporter—for several years major news sources have attempted to protect their reporters from Iran.  This practice is worthy of reporting about itself.  See “Iran vows ‘hit’ on all involved in US killing of top general,” AP, September 19, 2020.

So, for its continued movement of the Shia Crescent and continued threats to the region, growing missile threats, and support of terrorism, and unrelenting nuclear program, Iran’s refusal to change its overall behavior despite membership in the JCPOA led the U.S. under Pres. Trump to withdraw from that agreement.  Now we have arrived at the moment of snapback, as Iran has violated the JCPOA multiple times, but the European parties to the agreement refuse to enforce penalities/sanctions.  Iran continues to threaten them.  Russia and China want Iran’s actions to continue.  So the U.S. will lead on this issue and insist that sanctions are warranted.  Here’s one of many stories on this.  Note also that the reporter is identified because the story is about the U.S., not Iran, and the U.S. doesn’t threaten or imprison reporters or harass their families.  “U.S. says U.N. sanctions on Iran to be reimposed Saturday. What does that mean?,” Michelle Nichols, AP, September 19, 2020.

On any one day, cherry-picking can result in an interpretation such as the NYT.  But note the second article—the real threats continue unabated.  “As U.S. Increases Pressure, Iran Adheres to Toned-Down Approach,” Julian Barnes, David Sanger, Ronen Bergman, and Lara Jakes, New York Times, Jazeera, September 19, 2020.

“Iranian commander vows to avenge US assassination of top general,” Al Jazeera, September 19, 2020.

“Development projects properly underway at Imam Khomeini Port,” Mahnaz Abdi, Tehran Times, September 19, 2020.

Notice that the ammonium nitrate is stored by Hezbollah throughout Europe and has been used by past terror attacks—Hezbollah isn’t storing it for fertilizer for farming.  “Bombing in Bulgaria: Turning the Tide on Hezbollah,” Toby Dershowitz and Dylan Gresik, op-ed, Newsweek, September 19, 2020.

“US reimposes UN sanctions on Iran amid increasing tensions,” J. Edward Moreno, The Hill, September 19, 2020.

They lost the four fingers of the right hand, leaving the thumb and palm, for conviction of theft.  “Three prisoners to have finger amputation for theft in NW Iran,” IranNewsWire, June 24, 2020.

“Turkey and Iran are engaging in new operations in Africa – reports,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, September 18, 2020.

This is frightening for the people of Ireland.  The New IRA is attempting to get weapons and explosives from Iran’s proxy Hezbollah.  They met at the Iranian Embassy, need we say more?  See “Irish terrorists in Hezbollah weapons sting met with Iranian embassy officials,” Thomas Harding, The National, September 18, 2020.

“Rampant Kitten spent six years hacking Iranian dissidents,” Alex Scroxton, ComputerWeekly.com, September 18, 2020.

“The hacking campaign used malware to attempt to steal the identities of thousands of U.S. citizens to accomplish unlawful acts and steal information related to U.S. aerospace and satellite technology.”  See “US Charges 3 Iranians in Connection With State-Sponsored Identity Theft,” VOA, September 17, 2020.

“With ‘hasty’ execution of wrestler, Iran sends defiant message to world,” Stuart Williams, Times of Israel, September 17, 2020.

“Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard: ‘Strike teams’ sent to patrol oil-rich province,” Bradford Betz,| Fox News, September 17, 2020.

“Trump eyes executive order to punish arms trade with Iran: Report,” Al Jazeera, September 17, 2020.

Not part of the jurisdiction argument this week, but will Iran argue that it can hold hostages and commit terrorism under the treaty of friendship?  “Tehran tells World Court U.S. sanctions breach friendship treaty,” SwissInfo.com, September 16, 2020.

“The German government-funded athletic organization said in a statement that “the killing of Navid Afkari by the Iranian regime is a terrible act against humanity and an intolerable violation of the human rights of an athlete. This act cannot remain without consequences for Iran. Its government instrumentalizes sports for its purposes and has made an example of Navid Afkari, a protesting athlete. Iran is not the only country in international sports that disregards human rights, but with the killing of the 27-year-old wrestler Navid Afkari it has crossed a line.” Iran’s regime executed Afkari on Saturday, triggering a global outcry over the murder of a reportedly innocent wrestler for protesting the regime’s corruption in 2018. The Iranian authorities claim Afkari killed a water company security guard during the nation-wide protests. But overwhelming evidence, including a widely-confirmed forced confession, show Iran’s regime likely framed Afkari to silence the social and labor unrest unfolding in Iran.”  See “German athletes association urges Iran be banned from Olympics,” Benjamin Weinthal, Jerusalem Post, September 16, 2020.

“Justice Department indicts two Iranians accused of stealing sensitive data in multiple countries,” Maggie Miller, The Hill, September 16, 2020.

“Iran’s annual butter production capacity at over 70,000 tons,” Tehran Times, September 16, 2020.

Hmm.  “Iran’s Islamist leaders have a history of carrying out assassinations beyond their country’s borders, as well as taking hostages, since seizing power following a popular uprising in the late 1970s, Politico reported. In recent decades, Iran has generally avoided directly targeting US diplomats, although Iranian-backed militias have long attacked US diplomatic facilities and personnel in Iraq.”  See “Iran denies seeking vengeance in South African plot,” Dave Makichuk, Asia Times, September 16, 2020.

“A new look at Iran’s complicated relationship with the Taliban,” Barnett Rubin, War on the Rocks, September 16, 2020.

All you need to know.  “Iran’s Revolutionary Courts and the judiciary are known for their lack of due process, forced concessions, and for denying detainees access to lawyers. As Human Rights Watch’s Deputy Middle East Director Michael Page explained: “Iranian authorities have a history of targeting dissidents’ family members on bogus charges and, after nearly two months, they have failed to provide an iota of evidence against Younesi and Moradi. The prolonged solitary confinement, lack of access to a lawyer, and the judiciary’s history of coerced confessions signal that there’s almost zero chance that the due process rights of these two students will be respected.””  See “Iran regime’s paranoia over future widespread protests,” Majid Rafizadeh, op-ed, Arab News, September 16, 2020.