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In Beijing, the Chinese government has called for a renewed effort to reach a long-term solution to the Iranian nuclear issue. With agreement in Vienna a real possibility, Chinese policymakers are busy thinking about what that might mean. Western politicians say the economic damage inflicted by the sanctions they have imposed has forced Iran to the negotiating table. Many Chinese analysts, however, say the main impetus towards a deal could now be coming from America. The US, Chinese experts say, needs better relations with Iran to wind down its commitments in southwest Asia.

[08 Apr 2014] Global rates jump on renewed Ukraine tensions - English

[05 May 2014] 65 killed in renewed clashes between al-Nusra Front, ISIL - English

[6th June 2016] A renewed wave of anti-US sentiments rises in Pakistan | Press TV English

The Real News Blackwater in Iraq Contract renewed for another year

Members of Basij called Devotees of Velayat renewed allegiance to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution on Ghadir Day.

Israel approves the release of 26 Palestinian prisoners under the terms of the renewed so-called peace talks with the Palestinian Authority. The released inmates are considered the second group of prisoners discharged since August. Israeli prison authorities say the inmates will be released at least 48 hours after their names are published. Tel Aviv had said 104 Palestinians would be freed in stages following the start of negotiations on July 30. An Israeli official claimed last week that the move was linked to a deal with the Palestinian Authority in exchange for continued settlement construction in the occupied territories. But the PA has vehemently denied the allegation, saying the construction activities seriously threaten the so-called peace talks, that resumed in July after a three-year halt.

The US government is under renewed pressure from pro-Israel lobbyists over talks with Iran. Pro-Israel advocates have met with senior White House officials to seek explanations about recent negotiations with Iran. They\'re worried about the possible easing of draconian sanctions on Iran while they seek a military option down the road. White House officials say they\'ve told the lobbyists the U-S wants to resolve the nuclear issue through diplomacy. The Obama administration also wants Congress to stop introducing new sanctions on Iran in order to give talks a chance. Pro-Israel lobbyists namely AIPAC are pressuring the government to retain harsh sanctions. Some US politicians suspect lobbyists of trying to push anti-Iran measures to a tipping point that could lead to a conflict.

US President Barack Obama has renewed his presidential campaign vow to shut the notorious military jail at Guantanamo Bay. Obama said the U-S Congress should first lift the remaining restrictions on prisoners\' transfers. However, he stopped short of offering any proposal on how to close the jail, with its remaining one-hundred 55 inmates. Obama made the remarks during his State of the Union address at the U-S Capitol Hill. He also touched on America\'s foreign policy, promising to declare an end to the 12-year war in Afghanistan at the end of 20-14. On a different note, he spoke of Iran\'s nuclear energy program, and vowed to veto any new sanctions bill against Tehran. Obama urged the congress to give diplomacy a chance to succeed.

Air force personnel renewed their allegiance to the Leader of Muslims Imam Al-Khamenei

The new US administration has not shied away from criticising Israel's illegal settlement expansion in the occupied Palestinian territorities. And when Israel announced plans to build 1,600 new settler homes in East Jerusalem while Joe Biden, the US vice-president, was visiting the country last week as part of a Middle East peace inititative - the US was not happy. A senior US official has called the timing of the announcement an "insult". And Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, had earlier told Binyamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, that his government was putting "US ties at risk" by failing to take action towards renewed Middle East peace talks. Although Netanyahu has apologised for the timing of the announcement, Israel is not showing any signs of stopping the settlement expansion and the US is not backing down from its tough criticism.

The U.S. renewed its Military Attacks threat against Islamic Republic of Iran. Supreme Leader, Ayatullah Sayyed Ali Khamenei (H.A) responds.

The U.S. renewed its Military Attacks threat against Islamic Republic of Iran. Supreme Leader, Ayatullah Sayyed Ali Khamenei (H.A) responds.

Robert Gates, the US secretary of defense, has said the stage is set for the UN Security Council to impose renewed sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme. But Turkey and Brazil, who brokered a deal to swap Iran's low-enriched uranium for fuel rods, are saying more debate is needed.

IAEA resolution looms large on Israel Arab states remain adamant about bringing Israel to account for its nuclear activities by proposing a relevant draft resolution to UN's nuclear watchdog for its upcoming annual conference. As the 54th annual general conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is set to convene next week, there is great international anticipation for a major focus on Tel Aviv's nuclear activities, after so many years of ignoring the issue. "The Arab Group urges to keep the item 'Israeli nuclear capabilities' on the agenda of the general conference and ... will submit a draft resolution," said the Sudanese envoy to the organization, Mahmound El-Amin on behalf of 22 Arab states, AFP reported. "The Arab Group requests the IAEA member states to support the draft resolution and vote in favor of it," he added. The Israeli regime is widely believed to have manufactured numerous nuclear warheads since 1958, a year after IAEA's inception. The agency, however, has so far refused to ratify any resolutions on Israel's nuclear activities. Former US President Jimmy Carter has attested to the existence of the Israeli nuclear arsenal, confirming that it includes between 200 to 300 warheads. Decades of recurrent reporting and aerial footage have also established the Israeli possession of atomic arms. The IAEA Director General, Yukiya Amano recently reported to the agency's Board of Governors about the nuclear program, saying that Tel Aviv was restricting the agency from examining its nuclear potentials. The report, however, merely calls on Tel Aviv to join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and "place all its nuclear facilities under comprehensive IAEA safeguards," with no enforcement or follow-up measures behind it. El-Amin called the report "weak and disappointing" and said that the organization uses "double standards" when it comes to Israel. Efforts by Arab states and other countries caused an NPT review conference in May to issue a statement, highlighting the importance of Tel Aviv's acceding to the treaty and its allowing the IAEA to fully inspect its nuclear sites. The United States, Israel's strongest ally, has served its Arab allies with a warning against supporting the draft resolution on Israel's nuclear activities, arguing that it poses risks to the renewed direct talks between the Tel Aviv regime and the Palestinian Authority (PA). Many Palestinian groups have already abandoned hope in the process, citing the White House's partiality in favor of the Israelis and arguing that the acting PA Chief, Mahmoud Abbas, does not represent most Palestinians. Article Source: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/142772.html

Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei praised Thursday the unique and undeniable role of Basij (Volunteer Forces). Ayatollah Khamenei made the remarks in an address to a large gathering of 110,000 members of Basij called 'Devotees of Velayat (Leadership)' who had come to visit the Supreme Leader. Ayatollah Khamenei said that Basij has presently become a 'clear, great and shining truth' of the Islamic society of Iran 'with no similar version.' The Ayatollah added that Iran's Basiji forces were unique compared to other large forces in other countries as their large numbers could never bring together their hearts, while what has brought together Iran's Basiji forces, is the solidarity of their hearts. 'Basij is a gathering of hearts, a mobilization of faiths, souls and emotions,' said the Supreme Leader, stressing what was useful to go through the dark days 'is not a strong body but a strong heart.' 'You can smash mountains and go through difficult paths with strong hearts and faiths,' said the Supreme Leader.

Renewed violence has broken out in both capital Sanaa and the city of Taiz, with supporters of embattled president Ali Abdullah Saleh and his opponents blaming each other for at least three deaths and hundreds of injuries. UN officials have urged government forces not to attack protesters, while president Saleh has called for negotiations with his opponents. Al Jazeera's Tarek Bazley has more on the deepening divisions in Yemen.

British home secretary Theresa May accused universities of complacency over campus extremism. However university vice chancellors across the country have warned the government that to clamp violent extremist speakers on campuses could lead to renewed freedom of speech rows. In this edition of the show we ask the following question; what effects do the UK's counter-terrorism strategies have on academic freedom?

After a brief period of relative calm in the port city of Karachi, the incidents of sectarian targeted killings once again claimed the lives of two members of the shia community including an ex-secretary of Shia ulema council, Kauser Zaidi. Furious participants of the funeral procession, behind me, are demanding what they call their primary right of security from the state which they say has failed so far to deliver this right. The men who unsuccessfully tried to kill Zaidi in August finally accomplished their mission on Friday at Pakistan Chowk, a place near to the financial street of Pakistan, the II Chindrigar road. The 50-year-old former secretary of the Shia Ulema Council was shot at close range as he was on his way home with his wife. She emerged unscathed. Just three hours later, another Shia man was gunned down in the city. The city witnessed a relative peace after the apex court of the country started hearing of Karachi violence in Ramadan. Observers believe that this may start a new wave of violence in Karachi as Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar is approaching. The Shia community in Balochistan also came under intense attack recently when about 29 people were killed in two separate, targeted incidents including an attack in Mastung on pilgrims heading to Iran. According to the Human Rights commission of Pakistan, over 1400 people were killed during the first eight months of the 2011 because of ethnic, sectarian and political violence. Experts say although the raids have been started by the law enforcement agencies against those responsible, following the Supreme court\\\'s verdict over Karachi violence, but due to the politicization of these institutions, results of these crackdowns will be limited.

Iran's Secretary General of the High Council for Human Rights, Mohammad Javad Larijani has said that the recent claims by the International Atomic Energy Agency against Tehran are “laughable.” In his November 8 report on Iran's nuclear program, IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano claimed that Iran had engaged in activities related to developing nuclear weapons before 2003, adding that these activities “may still be ongoing.” Based on the report, which Iran has called "unfounded and unbalanced," the IAEA Board of Governors on Friday passed a new resolution on the Islamic Republic's nuclear activities. The resolution voices "deep and increasing concern" over Tehran's nuclear program and also calls for Iran and the IAEA to intensify dialogue to resolve the dispute over the issue. Larijani made the remarks in a heated television debate aired on the American channel MSNBC. US president of the Council on Foreign Relations, Dr. Richard Haass, Mike Barnicle and John Mitchun were the other guests on the television debate. What follows is a rough transcription of the interview: MSNBC: Let's go to the heart of the matter when it comes to Iran, the headlines of the past week, the IAEA report found evidence of nuclear weapons program in Iran and you are quoted as saying that is “quite laughable.” Why sir? Larijani: The reason is very simple. There is no single evidence in that. These allegations which is aired again is based on a document which was put to us four years ago based on a laptop somewhere found by United States authorities. And at that time, four years ago, it has been discussed with the agency and the conclusion was that none of these allegations could be verified. So by a letter it has been closed- the whole issue. Then again it has been renewed and [let me] just give you an example. A good part of this so-called document which is on the laptop, for example lecture notes that somebody presented in Brussels or at some universities. Some of them are parts of some textbook as put together with pictures, formulas, so it is totally inconclusive. MSNBC: Let's back up. Before I send this to Richard Haass- are you saying it doesn't exist? There is no nuclear program? Larijani: Well we have a very extensive nuclear program but not to the direction of producing arms. Our nuclear project is very extensive, very advanced. We are number one in the Middle East but we are not pursuing the nuclear armament for two basic reasons. Number one there is a Fatwa by Ayatollah Khamenei, the leader and it is against the Islamic jurisprudence to build and use mass destructing weapons. It is Haram we call it, unlawful. And secondly, it doesn't add to our security. It is more liability than asset for us. Our military muscle is strong enough to repel or to deter any imminent threat and this is basically very important achievement. MSNBC: Richard Haass, put this into perspective for us. What the reports were saying and what this gentleman is saying. Haass: Well quite frankly it is impossible to take the Iranian denial seriously. They are preposterous. The International Atomic Energy Agency taking information from all the member states in the United Nations have put together a comprehensive and extraordinarily damning report. And what there is, is a pattern, not a single incident, a pattern over years of Iranian program to move in the direction of developing nuclear weapons. We see a procurement mechanism to gain access to all sorts of equipment, we see all sorts of undeclared efforts to produce nuclear material now up to 20 percent well on its way to what it needs to produce a weapon, most important there is now serious evidence about the Iranian testing of the implosive device that would actually be the heart of the nuclear weapon. So the idea that the Iranians have all these underground and undeclared facilities, that they have been misleading the International Atomic Energy Agency for years, the idea they're doing this- this oil rich country in order to produce electricity? If you believe that you seriously have to believe in the tooth fairy. MSNBC: Sir this doesn't sound like preposterous, little pieces of information that were roaming together randomly. Larijani: Well the whole scenes of allegation is produced and initiated by the United States. It seems there is a good machinery to produce perpetual allegation against Iran, it is not only one case. I am telling you exactly that there are no secret programs in our nuclear program and development. Iran's transparency is far ahead of United States, far ahead of UK, far ahead of France and incomparable to Israel which is a renegade state in the sense of NPT. Barnicle: So you allow inspectors to just come into Iran. Larijani: The inspectors are coming to Iran periodically, the cameras are there 24 hours. This is quite obvious. Haass: But the whole concept the way this works, just when you talk about inspectors, let's just be clear, I am sure if everyone watching this will understand, the entire international nuclear inspection effort depends upon the willingness of the country in question to cooperate fully. This is a gentlemen's agreement. They declare their facilities that are involved in the nuclear business then the inspectors come in and look at them. If they do not declare facilities the inspectors don't give a chance and the problem is this is a gentlemen's agreement in a world where not every country is a gentleman. So Iran quite frankly has undeclared facilities and undeclared programs which the inspectors had not had access to and the reason we only know about it is that member states, not simply the United States sir, but many, many member states of the United Nations have provided independent information to the International Atomic Energy Agency, which by the way you know and I know is not controlled by the United States. We have fundamental differences with this agency over the years including over Iraq. We had fundamental differences and we've also had differences over Iran where we the United States felt, this agency was not being nearly tough enough. So now they have come in with an extraordinarily damning report and Iranian officials can dismiss it. MSNBC: So if this is a gentlemen's agreement, the gentlemen certainly don't agree and sir, you seem very confident and almost as if it's funny it's interesting because we interviewed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad about this about a year ago, off camera, and he too seemed very comfortable about his position which is similar to yours. And if you are so comfortable with your position about the lack of nuclear armament and the facilities that the IAEA is talking about, why not let inspectors completely come in? Open the door let them come in and see what you have. Larijani: Well the mechanism that the gentleman addressed is not complete because first of all there is no single secret installment or activity which is concealed from the agency. Secondly, two years ago we asked the agency tell us all the questions you have and he managed to put to us six groups of questions. The questions were raised by themselves not dictated by us. So one by one groups of inspectors came to Iran and we cleared them up and there is official letters from them this group has been finished then we moved to another one. Well it doesn't make sense that every morning somebody says we guess there is some secret things done there. There should be foundation for this allegation. What do you mean the door should be open? They should ask where do you want to inspect? Did they want to inspect my bedroom or other places? I mean it doesn't make sense. Barnicle: A few moments ago when you mentioned the nuclear programs of other nations I detected a definite edge in your voice when you mentioned the state of Israel. Do you fear an attack from the state of Israel on your nuclear facilities? Larijani: Well I am beyond the fear. What is the difference between us and Israel? Israel has a bomb, not a member of NPT; it doesn't disclose anything to agency, nothing wrong with it. You see what the double standard is in here. We are member of NPT, they periodically come to Iran, their cameras are there, we don't have the weapon then the whole pressure is put on us. No, not at all. We don't fear any attack from anyone. We take it serious in our calculation but we don't fear. There is a difference between that. Mitchum: Given your tone again Sir when you talk about Israel, just a second ago why shouldn't we suspect that there would be ambitions for Iran to join the club of which Israel is a part with the nuclear arms? Larijani: We are very advanced in the nuclear technology which is a matter of pride for us and that gentleman mentioned that we have plenty of gas and oil with all good calculations, the age of this is up to 20-25 period, 25 years from now. It means that if we don't have it, then we should beg in front of the Western countries to light our houses and we know how bad they are treating us in this area. We are right now very happy that we have the first power plant, we know how to make the fuel. We already have more than 25 percent share of sodalite and erudite they don't give us a bit of this fuel that we need, even the twenty percent that we needed for Tehran. Haass: It's important to keep in mind we are not talking about an established democracy that treats its own people with respect, we are talking about a country also that is the largest state sponsor of terrorism in the world. So this is obvious and understandable concern about what Iran is doing. Larijani: In terms of record I think United States of America is the largest and the greatest country supporting terrorism. The records of terrorist activity which is supported by the tax money of these people is enormous, I can go one by one. Barnicle: Wait a minute. This is a free country. And part of our gift is we have the liberty and the freedom to say anything and to sound foolish, to sound absurd, to sound smart. That's absurd saying that America is the biggest terrorist nation in the world. My question to you Sir is, you seem like a really nice guy, alright, why doesn't your country be a better neighbor? Larijani: We have fantastic relations with all of our neighbors... Barnicle: Really? [laughing] Larijani: Definitely, but the policy of demonizing Iran, a very important policy which is pursued in the region- well it has its own benefit. Barnicle But it's just in little things, like the American tourists cross the border, supposedly cross the border, you grab them, you scoop them, you hold them for months on end. Why? Larijani: This is a very simple question I answered before; suppose the security of your people... Barnicle You're here... Larijani: No, I'm here with visa- It's quite different. [Suppose] The security of the United States' people, on a patrol with Mexico elsewhere they pick 3 Iranians and ask them why are you here? They say well we are just walking in the desert. Well, with the whole hostility and suspicion which is between the two countries, you are in here to blow up somewhere definitely they will be put into jail for years if not in Guantanamo, they bring them somewhere else. It took a lot of time that we convince- I was working on this case because they were like me from ... Berkeley. I talked with their families, managed to contact between them and their families when they were arrested- for their families to come to Iran to take the suspicion away. This is very natural for security of people to suspect a cross bordering which is in the most volatile regional area of Iran- in which there is daily shooting over there. Barnicle Ok. They're going to blow up the desert. What is the root? What do you think is the root of Iranian paranoia towards the United States and towards many of its neighbors? What is the root of this paranoia? Is it the fear that we find out about your nuclear program? Larijani: We don't have any paranoia about our neighbors. We are very suspicious of American paranoia with us. The question is what is wrong with Iran that this persistent hostility... Barnicle: You have a track record of international terrorism. Larijani: This is not true. We are ourselves the victim of international terrorism- terrorism in the area. Let me ask you, who was helping Al-Qaida and Taliban for years while we were at war with them in Afghanistan? The United States of America. The money from the United States was pouring to Al-Qaida and Taliban- the idea was we should curb Iran by another religious front. Is it correct? Haass: No it's not correct. The United States did support the Mujahidin; obviously in order to get rid of the Soviet... to say that the United States supported Al-Qaida is again preposterous- the fact is that Iran is supporting terrorism in Lebanon, it's supporting groups like Hezbollah, groups like Hamas; it is involved in Iraq; it is involved in Afghanistan. Iran has basically become a regional power that is trying to destabilize many countries, trying to make them in some ways heavily influenced by Tehran and that is simply a fact of life- which again is one of the reasons the world is so concerned about Iranian nuclear program. How do we know Iran will not become even more aggressive? How do we know that nuclear materials will not end in the hands of a group like Hezbollah? What do we see about Iran's track record that would lead us to believe that Iran in any way would be responsible with nuclear material? This is a genuine concern and if you dismiss it as laughable Sir you are seriously underestimating not simply the American, not simply the Israeli, but I would suggest the world's concern over the direction your government is heading. Larijani: The disastrous thing is the blind policy of the United States in supporting carte blanche renegade Israel which is the source of all tension in the region. If you call Hezbollah and Hamas terrorist groups- they are fighting to be given the permission to live. What about Israel? Israel is involved in government sponsored terrorism. Kills anybody who thinks that it's not correct and deprives millions of people from basic tenures of life. 60 years of atrocity in that area is supported carte blanche by the US, this is even against the basic interests of that nation- they don't know it. Mitchum:Sir do you recognize the right of Israel to exist? Larijani: We recognize the rights of Jews, Christians and Muslims to live together in peace and tranquility- to create a racist regime in the middle of a land put the others out is like creating a small colony for the blacks and leave the rest for the whites. Mitchum: Thank you for the answer. Barnicle: The answer is no. Larijani: No, the answer is not no. We respect any decision by Palestinians. We are not in a position to tell them what kind of state they [should] have. But they should be given the chance to decide. MSNBC:This has been fascinating and a great picture window into the choices that Americans make when they're choosing their president and also a sense of what our Secretary of State and what our diplomats have to confront in dealing with when they're going out into the world and working with other countries. It is extremely complicated and often conversations feel like they're going in circles because it's very hard to develop a common understanding or even a place where you can start engaging and I think this was an example of that. Mohammad Javad Larijani, thank you for coming on the show this morning.

[07 Feb 2013] Palestinians capture Israeli forces to free prisoners - English

[15 Feb 2013] Continued fighting casts doubt on quick French exit from Mali - English

[21 April 2013] US policy & Musharraf legacy - English

In Argentina, pro-Israel lobbies have renewed their criticism of a deal between Buenos Aires and Tehran to jointly probe the 19-94 bombing of a Jewish center in Buenos Aires. This shortly after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad approved the Memorandum of Understanding already okayed by Argentina\'s Congress. Press TV\'s Constanza Heller reports from Buenos Aires.

People in Gaza have slammed the renewed western attacks on Press TV and other Iranian channels. The alternative news outlet and its sister channels have come under a wave of unprecedented attacks by European governments and satellite providers since last year. Recently the giant satellite provider Intelsat stopped the broadcast of Iranian channels depriving millions of viewers around the world of the right to watch unbiased news coverage.

26 Palestinians have been released from Israeli prisons. However, thousands of Palestinians remain in Israeli detention centers. 21 of the prisoners are from the West Bank and the other five are from the Gaza Strip. They are the second group of prisoners that have been released since August. Israel approved the prisoner release under the terms of the renewed US-brokered talks with the Palestinians. Tel Aviv agreed to release 104 Palestinian prisoners in stages following the start of negotiations on July 30.

Tensions in Egypt are running high ahead of a new court appearance by ousted president Mohamed Morsi. At least ten pro-Morsi protesters have been killed and many others injured in renewed violence. The casualties have been reported from Cairo, Alexandria, Suez, Ismailia, and Fayoum. The clashes broke out when security forces fired tear gas, birdshot and live gunfire to disperse protesters. Demonstrators were out joining rallies after Friday prayers to demand an end to military rule and voice opposition to the new constitution. Similar violence has been reported from Suez, Assiut and northern Sinai. Security forces rounded up a large number of protesters across the country. Egypt has been tense ahead of Morsi\\\'s court and an upcoming referendum on a new constitution. Muslim Brotherhood has pledged to boycott the referendum slated to be held later this month.

Tensions in Egypt are running high ahead of a new court appearance by ousted president Mohamed Morsi. The anti-coup alliance says at least 19 pro-Morsi protesters have been killed and many others injured in renewed violence. The casualties have been reported from Cairo, Alexandria, Suez, Ismailia, and Fayoum. The clashes broke out when security forces fired tear gas, birdshot and live gunfire to disperse protesters. Demonstrators were out joining rallies after Friday prayers to demand an end to military rule and voice opposition to the new constitution. Similar violence has been reported from Suez, Assiut and northern Sinai. Security forces rounded up a large number of protesters across the country. Egypt has been tense ahead of Morsi\\\'s court and an upcoming referendum on a new constitution. Muslim Brotherhood has pledged to boycott the referendum slated to be held later this month.