February 18
International: Central Bank Governor Mohammad Reza Farzin traveled to Yekaterinburg, Russia to meet with his Russia counterpart, Elvira Nabiullina. The officials discussed bilateral banking agreements including the next phases of the integrated Mir-Shetab card payment systems to circumvent the U.S.-dollar controlled SWIFT system.
International: U.S. Navy and Coast Guard personnel rescued five Iranian and two Indian mariners who had abandoned their sinking vessel, Iranian ship M/V Shayesteh. The Iranian ship was flying a Qatari flag at the time of its sinking.
U.S. Navy and Coast Guard Rescue Iranian and Indian Mariners on Sinking Commercial Iranian Vessel in the Arabian Gulf
Great work today by personnel aboard the U.S. Navy ship USS DEVASTATOR (MCM 6) and U.S. Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) CLARENCE SUTPHIN JR (WPC 1147) in the Arabian… pic.twitter.com/z7kbXBeGnL— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 18, 2025
February 19
Diplomatic: Qatar’s emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani met with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran. The leaders discussed the need for regional cooperation to address ongoing tensions and increased economic ties. Khamenei emphasized the strong connection between the countries but noted “unclear and unresolved” issues that remained, referring to the $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets held in a Qatari bank due to U.S. sanctions.
February 20
International: Brigadier General Ebrahim Jabbari, advisor to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) commander, threatened to attack U.S. and allied targets in the region and Israel. “If the enemies want to attack Islamic Iran, all their bases and ships in the region will be burned in the fire of the Iranian nation's anger, and the resistance front will come to the fore. Operation True Promise 3 will be carried out at the right time, to the extent and scope of destroying Israel and plowing up Tel Aviv and Haifa."