January 8, 2021
Washington – Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Iraqi Popular Mobilization Committee (PMC) Chairman and former National Security Advisor Falih al-Fayyadh for his connection to serious human rights abuse. During protests beginning in October 2019, Iran-aligned elements of the PMC attacked Iraqi civilians demonstrating against corruption, unemployment, economic stagnation, poor public services, and Iranian interference in Iraq’s domestic affairs. Al-Fayyadh was part of a crisis cell comprised primarily of Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) militia leaders formed in late 2019 to suppress the Iraqi protests with the support of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF). Today, Iran-aligned elements of the PMF continue to wage an assassination campaign against political activists in Iraq who are calling for free and fair elections, respect for human rights, and clean government.
By Patrick Goodenough | December 17, 2020 | 3:58am EST
Holding images of Soleimani and KH militia leader Abu Mahdi al Muhandis, Iraqi women protest in Baghdad on January 4, the day after their death in drone strike ordered by President Trump. (Photo by Ahmad al-Rubaye/AFP via Getty Images)
(CNSNews.com) – Preparing to mark the first anniversary in 18 days’ time of the death of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force commander Qassem Soleimani, Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reiterated on Wednesday that his blood will be avenged, “at the right time.”
“Revenge will be taken on those who ordered the murder and those who carried it out, and this revenge will certainly be taken at the right time,” Khamenei said during a meeting in Tehran with relatives of Soleimani and organizers of a memorial event being planned for the anniversary.
By Patrick Goodenough | December 17, 2020 | 3:58am EST
Holding images of Soleimani and KH militia leader Abu Mahdi al Muhandis, Iraqi women protest in Baghdad on January 4, the day after their death in drone strike ordered by President Trump. (Photo by Ahmad al-Rubaye/AFP via Getty Images)
(CNSNews.com) – Preparing to mark the first anniversary in 18 days’ time of the death of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force commander Qassem Soleimani, Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reiterated on Wednesday that his blood will be avenged, “at the right time.”
“Revenge will be taken on those who ordered the murder and those who carried it out, and this revenge will certainly be taken at the right time,” Khamenei said during a meeting in Tehran with relatives of Soleimani and organizers of a memorial event being planned for the anniversary.
US Sanctions Chinese, UAE-Based Companies Over Sale of Iranian Petrochemicals
The United States on Dec. 16 said it has imposed sanctions on several companies that have been involved in the export of Iranian petrochemical products, accusing them of financing Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force and its terrorist proxies.
The U.S. Department of Treasury said in a press release that it clamped down on United Arab Emirates-based companies Alpha Tech Trading FZE and Petroliance Trading FZE; and Chinese-based companies Donghai International Ship Management Ltd. and Petrochem South East Ltd.
“These China- and United Arab Emirates-based companies have provided [Triliance Petrochemical Co. Ltd.] with critical shipping services or conducted financial transactions on behalf of the company, enabling Triliance to continue brokering and moving Iranian petrochemical exports,” the department said in a release.
Last week, the United Kingdom (UK) moved forward with its first inoculations of the approved Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The United States (US) approved the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine on Friday, 11 December, and will begin inoculations this coming week. The European Union (EU) continues to stress safety over speed in its vaccine approval process and has yet to follow suit.
The UK sealed the deal on a number of Free Trade Agreements, while talks with the EU continue without any significant breakthroughs. Meanwhile, the UK and EU are also preparing for a possible hard exit scenario.
This past week, Poland and Hungary reached a compromise with the EU on the custom union’s Budget and Recovery Fund, which will allow funds to flow at the start of the new year. The 116th US Congress, meanwhile, continues negotiations over a new COVID relief package, amid other priorities before adjourning.