WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom’s headlines from 18:00 GMT, July 17, 2017 to 08:00 GMT, July 18, 2017.

Slamming policy of sanctions

The Iranian foreign minister says the US must reconsider its approach of leveling sanctions against other nations, saying they are a liability for Washington. 

Zarif made the comments during an interview in New York. He said the US would be the prisoner of its own sanctions IF Washington doesn’t change its policy. The top Iranian diplomat stressed that the sanctions yield no positive results. Zarif also criticized the United States’ refusal to participate in a UN-organized meeting to ban the use of nuclear weapons. He said Tehran would remain committed to its pledge not to ever produce nuclear weapons. Earlier, Zarif had warned that any major violation of the 2015 nuclear deal by the US could lead to the Islamic republic’s withdrawal from the agreement.

Al-Aqsa tensions

Israeli forces have violently clashed with Palestinians protesting in various neighborhoods of Jerusalem al-Quds as Muslim uproar against a 2-day shutdown of Al-Aqsa mosque continues. 

Clashes erupted in Sur Baher, Silwan and Al-Issawiya neighborhoods. Israeli forces fired plastic bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowds. According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, 50 demonstrators were injured or suffered from suffocation. Israeli forces also raided the al-Makassed Islamic Charitable Society Hospital, in pursuit of an injured Palestinian. On Friday, Tel Aviv’s unusual decision to close the Al-Aqsa mosque compound set off a flurry of condemnations from the Palestinians and Muslims around the world. The Arab League called it a dangerous move. Other Muslim countries also slammed the closure as a violation of the basic rights of the Palestinians with Turkey blasting the move as a crime against humanity.

US gun violence

The US city of Chicago has experienced yet another bloody weekend. Nearly a dozen people have been killed and 45 others wounded in the gun violence across the city. 

The victims include a 9-year-old boy who was killed in a police-involved shooting. According to a police statement, at least 30 of the shootings occurred during an 18-hour period from Saturday night to Sunday morning. More than 2,000 people have lost their lives in the gun-related violence in Chicago this year. The Drug Enforcement Agency which believes that illicit drug trade fuels gun violence, recently announced that more agents would be sent to help the Chicago law enforcement.

A widening Arab rift 

Diplomatic rift is widening between Qatar and a Saudi-led alliance of four Arab states. In the latest development, Egypt has decided to end a visa-free entry for Qatari nationals.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying it would be senseless to allow Qataris into Egypt without visa. Qatari citizens now have to apply for an entry permit. Cairo said it would maintain some exceptions but has not elaborated on them. Meanwhile, Doha and the UAE have locked horns over Abu-Dhabi’s alleged hacking of the Qatari state news agency. The UAE rejected the allegation but Qatar said the move violated international law while. Last month, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt cut their diplomatic ties with Qatar accusing it of supporting terrorism. 

US-Russia tensions over diplomatic perimeters

Moscow has strongly condemned Washington’s attempts to set preconditions for the return of Russia’s seized diplomatic property.

Lavrov was speaking during an official visit to Belarus for a meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organization. He noted that some Washington elites are attempting to implicate Russia in the case of non-existing meddling in US internal affairs. The top Russian diplomat emphasized on Kremlin’s willingness to establish normal cooperation with all interested countries without exceptions. In December 2016, then President Barack Obama ordered the seizure of two Russian diplomatic compounds in New York and Maryland. 35 Russian diplomats also got expelled on allegations of involvement in hacking the US presidential election campaign. Moscow denies the accusation and has vowed retaliatory measures against Washington if the issue is not resolved by next week. 

Venezuela crisis continues 

Venezuela’s opposition calls for a 24-hour nationwide strike with an aim to further pressure President Nicholas Maduro to scrap his plan of rewriting the constitution.

The opposition is spurred on by a symbolic referendum held on Sunday. More than seven million Venezuelans voted against President Maduro and his plans to elect a constituent assembly tasked with revamping the constitution. The decision has hiked up tensions in the Latin American country with detractors saying it would emasculate the legislature. European Union Foreign Policy Chief, Federica Mogherini has also warned the Venezuelan government against going ahead with its constitutional reform agenda.

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