Albanian police announced that they have discovered an Iranian paramilitary network targeting exiled members of the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK), an opposition Iranian group seeking to overthrow Iran's government. Police chief Ardi Veliu said that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was operating an "active terrorist cell," adding that the network had ties to organized crime groups in Turkey and was fed information by a former MEK member. He also claimed that Albanian authorities stopped a planned Iranian attack in March. Approximately 2,500 MEK members moved to Albania from Iran in 2014.
News Briefs
October 18, 2019
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) increased pressure on Iran to meet its anti-money laundering and counterterrorism financing rules, calling for countries to enact enhanced processes on reporting financial transactions and audit requirements of financial institutions with branches or subsidiaries in Iran. FATF also extended a deadline to February 2020 for Iran to adopt certain measures before additional restrictions will be implemented.
-- The Wall Street Journal
October 16, 2019
The United States conducted a secret cyber strike against Iran following September 14 attacks on Saudi Arabian oil facilities. The strike targeted physical hardware related to Iran's ability to spread "propaganda," according to U.S. officials.
-- Reuters
October 15, 2019
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) reported that Iran's economy is expected to shrink by 9.5% this year. The estimate, which was published in the IMF's World Economic Outlook report, is similar to World Bank calculations which indicate that by the end of 2019, Iran's economy will be 90% of its size from two years ago. The IMF added that Iran continues to experience "very severe macroeconomic distress," including an estimated inflation rate of 35.7% for this year.
-- Reuters
October 15, 2019
U.S. prosecutors charged Turkey's state-owned Halkbank in a multibillion-dollar scheme to evade sanctions on Iran. The scheme used front companies in gold, food, and medicine transactions, and allegedly involved bribes to Turkish officials. The Halkbank indictment is the latest step in an investigation that first became public with the 2016 arrest of Reza Zarrab, a Turkish-Iranian businessman who subsequently pleaded guilty. In 2017, Halkbank deputy manager Mehmet Hakan Atilla was convicted and sentenced to 32 months in prison.
-- Reuters
October 11, 2019
The United States will deploy 1,800 additional troops in Saudi Arabia in an effort to deter Iranian aggression in the Middle East. The additions will include two fighter squadrons, two Patriot missile batteries, a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, and an aviation headquarters unit.
-- The Washington Post
October 11, 2019
An Iranian state-owned tanker off the coast of Saudi Arabia was "probably" struck by missiles, according to the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC). The Sabiti was 96 km from the Saudi port of Jeddah when it was attacked. Iran's Foreign Ministry said that the tanker was hit twice, but did not specify what struck it.
-- Reuters
October 6, 2019
The China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) has pulled out of a $5 billion project to develop the South Pars gas field in Iran. According to CNPC officials, it has become increasingly difficult to handle payments because China's Bank of Kunlun, the primary vehicle for Iranian-Chinese business, no longer accepts trades with Iran. French petroleum company Total SA pulled out of the project last year in the wake of renewed U.S. sanctions. Iranian oil minister Bijan Zangeneh announced that Iran's Petropars Co. would take over full development of the gas field.
-- The Wall Street Journal
October 4, 2019
A hacking group linked to the Iranian government unsuccessfully attempted to access Microsoft accounts connected with President Donald Trump's re-election campaign, among other targets. Microsoft reported "significant" cyber activity from the hacking group Phosphorous targeting U.S. government officials, journalists, and prominent Iranian expatriates. According to Microsoft, "Phosphorous" - which is also known as APT 35, Charming Kitten, and Ajax Security Team - made over 2,700 attempts to identify target email accounts and attacked 241 of them over a 30 day period in August and September.
-- Reuters
October 2, 2019
More than 20 ships carrying approximately one million tons of grain have been stuck for over a month outside Iran's Bandar Imam Khomeini and Bandar Abbas ports because of sanctions-related payment issues. The ships are carrying soybeans and corn, primarily from South America, and face costs of up to $15,000 per day. While there are no sanctions on humanitarian supplies such as food, businesses are often waiting months to receive payment because many Western banks are reluctant to have any business dealings with Iran. Affected companies include U.S. agribusiness Bunge, China's COFCO International, and several smaller Turkish and Iranian businesses.
-- Reuters