News Digest: Week of October 12

October 12

Health: Daily deaths from COVID-19 reached a record high of 272. Vaccine trials on human subjects would begin within weeks, Iran's health ministry said. 

 

October 13

Diplomacy: Iran's ambassador to Moscow discussed the Syrian civil war and Persian Gulf security with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin. 

Oil: Iran resumed gas exports to Iraqi Kurdistan for the first time since February. Exports were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the drop in global oil prices. 

 

October 14

Diplomacy: Iran expressed concern about violations of the Armenia-Azerbaijan ceasefire. “We will try our utmost to help bring a ceasefire to the Nagorno-Karabakh region and urge the warring sides to seriously respect international law and territorial integrity in all negotiations," Government Spokesman Ali Rabei said. 

Health: Iran imposed a three-day travel ban on five cities: Tehran, Karaj, Mashhad, Isfahan and Orumiyeh. The ban would run from October 17 to 19. The single-day death toll, 279 dead, broke record highs for the third time in a single week. 

Oil: South Korea said that it had imported no Iranian crude oil in September.