{"id":1453,"date":"2020-08-13T21:23:43","date_gmt":"2020-08-14T02:23:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.acu.edu\/coatesn\/?p=1453"},"modified":"2020-08-25T07:32:51","modified_gmt":"2020-08-25T12:32:51","slug":"1453","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.acu.edu\/coatesn\/2020\/08\/13\/1453\/","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the biggest events of the year occurred today (we need good news in 2020!)–Israel and the UAE agreed to normalize relations.\u00a0 Now, three Arab states have agreed to peace with Israel, and this is important to long-term peace in the Middle East.\u00a0 Congratulations to President Trump, Prime Minister Netanyahu, and Crown Prince Al-Nahyan.\u00a0 This agreement will greatly concern Iran and its plans for a Shia Crescent.\u00a0 \u201cSources in Washington and Jerusalem said the Trump administration is in talks with other Gulf States to reach normalization agreements with Israel. \u00a0Bahrain is likely to be next.\u201d\u00a0 This is due to Israel\u2019s \u201csuspension\u201d of assertions of sovereignty in the West Bank.\u00a0 It is a brilliant act of diplomacy and international relations.\u00a0 Finally, it cannot but be observed in this agreement that freedom is still the aim of the world, no matter where one lives.\u00a0 See \u201cIsrael, UAE reach historic peace deal: \u2018We can make a wonderful future\u2019,\u201d<\/a> Lahav Harkov and Omri Nahmias, Jerusalem Post, August 13, 2020.<\/p>\n

Iran\u2019s movement into Syria forced this.\u00a0 The IDF \u201chas carried out about 1,000 airstrikes in Syria since 2017, most of them against Iranian and Hezbollah targets, as part of a campaign to hinder the establishment of Iranian strongholds in Syria and Hezbollah\u2019s precision-guided missile project.\u00a0 See \u201cIsrael Attacked 1,000 Iranian and Hezbollah Targets in Syria Since 2017,\u201d<\/a> Yaniv Kubovich, Haaretz, August 13, 2020.<\/p>\n

No more Iranian oil goes to Venezuela!\u00a0 The U.S. has been successful in enforcing sanctions, even if on the high seas.\u00a0 \u201cOfficials: U.S. seizes Iranian gas heading for Venezuela,\u201d<\/a> AP, WTOC, August 13, 2020.\u00a0 See also\u00a0\u201cShip owners sailing four Iranian fuel cargoes to U.S. for seizure \u2013 sources,\u201d<\/a> Jonathan Saul and Marianna Parraga, Reuters, August 13, 2020.<\/p>\n

Now it has become known that the U.S. has legally seized not only oil from terror-organized Iran, but also has legally seized crypto from crime-organized terror groups.\u00a0 Take a bite out of crime!\u00a0 “U.S. seizes $2 million from more than 300 cryptocurrency accounts used by terror groups,\u201d<\/a> Amanda Macias, CNBC, August 13, 2020.<\/p>\n

There were a number of anti-U.S. and anti-Brian Hook articles when his resignation was announced.\u00a0 Here\u2019s one.\u00a0 In light of the Aug. 13 announcement of the UAE (!) to recognize Israel, I wonder if IFP will issue a retraction.\u00a0 Otherwise it is an enabler.\u00a0 See \u201cHook\u2019s Resignation Triggered by Failure of Anti-Iran Efforts: Analyst,\u201d<\/a> IFP Editorial Staff, August 11, 2020.\u00a0 \u00a0And see\u00a0\u201cUS Iran envoy says peace between Israel and Arabs is Tehran’s ‘worst nightmare’,\u201d<\/a> Zachary Halaschak, Washington Examiner, August 13, 2020.<\/p>\n

Very true.\u00a0 \u201cWhat will be left will be a new potential for a growing regional anti-Iran coalition, a major strategic setback for Tehran. Along those same lines, it is a strategic opportunity for the other Gulf states. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and even Qatar will likely wait to see the outcome of the coming diplomacy between the UAE and Israel and the exact contours of the resulting normalization agreement.\u201d\u00a0 See \u201cA rare strategic victory\u2014for everyone except Iran,\u201d<\/a> William Wechsler, Atlantic Council, August 13, 2020.<\/p>\n

IAEA reportedly says Iran is moving advanced centrifuges to the nuclear facility targeted by mysterious blast in July, to set up new cascades.\u00a0 See\u00a0\u201cIran said readying to ratchet up enrichment at Natanz, violating nuke deal,\u201d <\/a>Times of Israel, August 13, 2020.<\/p>\n

\u201cLithuania designates Hezbollah as a terrorist organization,\u201d<\/a> Edwardsville Intelligencer, August 13, 2020.<\/p>\n

\u201cIranian official reveals claims of corruption at highest levels,\u201d<\/a> Al Monitor, August 13, 2020.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cParviz Fattah, an official under former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s administration (2005-13), gave an interview to Iranian state TV on Aug. 1 that continues to rock Iranian media, even leading to speculation of a run for the presidency. A former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) member who served as Ahmadinejad\u2019s energy minister and as head of the Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation for four years, Fattah has since 2019 been head of the Mostazafan Foundation, a charitable organization that is often described as the second wealthiest institution in Iran next to the Oil Ministry. In his time at the foundation, he has already become a household name. What has made Fattah the headlines of several newspapers and the top story on several websites is not his past job experiences but his very frank conversations about the one thing that remains on every Iranian\u2019s mind: corruption. During the television interview, the soft-spoken and mild-mannered Fattah called out corruption at some of the top institutions in the Islamic Republic. \u2026 The interview continues to make waves in Iranian media because very rarely will a top official, chosen by the supreme leader, criticize other individuals or organizations that operate under the supreme leader. Typically when such things are done, it is to settle intra-party or partisan scores. However, that a conservative figure like Fattah claimed corruption against other conservatives has caught many by surprise. And Iranian media outlets, despite quoting him as saying that he has no political ambition and he only wishes to serve his job as head of the foundation, continue to speculate about whether the interview suggests he has political ambitions for the 2021 presidential election.\u201d\u00a0 This is an unusual move by the Supreme Leader, who controls Mostazafan, and indicates he must be wanting to put aside selected opponents.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One of the biggest events of the year occurred today (we need good news in 2020!)–Israel and the UAE agreed to normalize relations.\u00a0 Now, three Arab states have agreed to peace with Israel, and this is important to long-term peace in the Middle East.\u00a0 Congratulations to President Trump, Prime Minister Netanyahu, and Crown Prince Al-Nahyan.\u00a0 … <\/p>\n

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