Vice Admiral John Miller writes that Trump’s Twitter threat to destroy Iranian boats isn’t guidance.

“I have instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea.”

- US President Donald Trump, on Twitter

IRGCN vessels approach the guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Hamilton
and other US military ships in the Gulf on April 15, 2020. (US Navy photo/Released)

Response to US Navy ships harassed: Last week, eleven small craft operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) came dangerously close to US warships conducting exercises in the Persian Gulf. On April 22, US President Donald Trump tweeted a threat (see above). As Vice Admiral John Miller points out, “US Navy commanders are capable of understanding that President Trump’s tweet isn’t direction for them, as they already have adequate guidance,” and that the tweet was “a warning to Iran that the United States will protect its assets in accordance with international law and the CJCS Standing Rules of Engagement.” (Atlantic Council) On the same day, President Trump also shared a tweet on Iran from a Twitter account belonging to a person that doesn’t exist (The Intercept). On April 23, the head of the IRGC said he gave orders to his forces to target US ships that threaten Iranian warships and non-military vessels in the Persian Gulf (Al-Monitor). Hossein Salami added that US ships were behaving “unprofessionally and interfering with [Iran’s] logistics ships” and that Iranian speedboats were responding to the actions of the US warships. 
 
Satellite launched: On April 23, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a military satellite into orbit to mark the 41st anniversary of the founding of the IRGC (AP). The IRGC said “Noor” or light was the first military satellite ever launched. Noor reached an orbit of 425 km above the earth’s surface. Tehran has had failed satellite launches in the past, including in February. Western officials are concerned that such launches could help Tehran develop intercontinental ballistic missiles. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned the launch as a violation of a United Nations Security Council resolution, adding that Tehran would be “held accountable,” without specifying (New York Times). On April 23, a commander of the IRGC said that there will be future military satellites launched at higher orbits (Radio Farda). Meanwhile, on April 22, 51 former and current US officials and Iran experts sent an open letter to President Trump calling on him to double down pressure on Iran (Radio Farda).

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard capitalizes on pandemic to strengthen grip on the country (Washington Post).

Zarif visits Syria: This week, Iran’s foreign minister traveled to Damascus to meet with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (Al-Monitor). Zarif traveled to Syria to discuss bilateral ties and regional developments, including Syria’s fight against “terrorism,” a reference to various rebel groups opposed to Assad. Zarif last met with the Syrian president in April 2019.

Coronavirus updates: On April 23, Iran’s official death toll from the coronavirus had risen to 5,481 with infections rising to 87,026 (Reuters). This week, the Iranian government began opening bazaars, highways, shopping malls, and parks (AP). However, they extended the closures of schools and universities, while restaurants and gyms remain closed. On April 19, Iran extended furlough for prisoners for another month (Reuters). Iran has temporarily released 100,000 prisoners since February. However, as the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran, Javaid Rehman, noted, “most prisoners of conscience, human rights defenders, conservationists and dual and foreign nationals” remain in prison. Iran also extended the closure of holy sites until May 4 (Al-Monitor). A further extension may be decided based on later assessments. On April 22, President Hassan Rouhani dismissed allegations of mismanagement and cover-up in his administration’s response to the coronavirus outbreak (Al-Monitor). Rouhani said the critics were a small group and a “mouthpiece of foreigners” that are repeating the enemy’s stance, to politically benefit from the outbreak. 
 
Iranian women have answered authorities’ calls to volunteer by upholding the Islamic custom of purifying the dead before burial (Los Angeles Times).
 
Like much of the Middle East, Iranians heavily rely on delivery for many of their daily supplies (AP).
 
Help not needed: On April 26, President Donald Trump said that if Iran needed aid, the US would be willing to provide it (Reuters). On April 20, the Iranian president’s spokesman said that if Tehran wanted help from the US, they would ask for it (Al-Monitor). Ali Rabiei added that Trump’s comment is a personal opinion and it doesn’t matter who occupies the White House. Rabiei explained that even if a Democrat took office that Tehran will not have talks “if they do not stop the bullying, sanctions and assassinations… Our recommendation to America is rather than finding the same culprits—correct your path.” 
 
Army Day with health focus: On March 17, Iran marked its annual Army Day with disinfectant trucks, mobile hospitals and other medical equipment (Reuters). As Reuters notes, “It was a far cry from the typical Army Day parades, which normally feature spectacles of infantry, missiles, submarines and armored vehicles, with warplanes flying overhead.” President Rouhani said, “Due to health and social protocols, it is not possible to hold a parade of soldiers...The enemy now is hidden and doctors and nurses are [instead] at the frontlines of the battlefield.” On April 18, the Iranian armed forces revealed three bomb-carrying drones with a range of 1,500 km (Haaretz). According to Defense Minister Amir Hatami, the drones could monitor “enemy movements from a considerable distance,” were capable of combat missions, and could fly at an altitude of up to 45,000 feet.