[28 Oct 2013] Salafist movement confirmed death of Jordanian nationals...
A Salafist movement confirms that at least 77 Jordanian nationals have been killed in Syria since the beginning of the unrest in the Arab country....
A Salafist movement confirms that at least 77 Jordanian nationals have been killed in Syria since the beginning of the unrest in the Arab country.
The Jordanian Salafist Movement has said the slain militants were fighting under the banner of the al-Nusra Front. It added that there are at least 15-hundred Jordanian nationals fighting in Syria, most of them members of the al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. A very large number of the militants fighting against the Syrian government are reportedly foreign nationals. Latest reports also suggest that more than 210 extremists have traveled from Germany to Syria since the conflict started about three years ago. The Syrian government says the West and its regional allies, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, are supporting the militants.
0m:47s
5856
[29 Oct 2013] US to continue its surveillance program: Danny Schechter -...
Press TV has conducted an interview with Danny Schechter, editor of mediachannel.org, about the US spying scandal continuing to cause outrage among...
Press TV has conducted an interview with Danny Schechter, editor of mediachannel.org, about the US spying scandal continuing to cause outrage among its European allies.
4m:17s
4368
[29 Oct 2013] Latest market data show India has drastically increased...
Latest market data show India has drastically increased oil imports from Iran-- in a clear proof of Iran\'s success in defying sanctions that have...
Latest market data show India has drastically increased oil imports from Iran-- in a clear proof of Iran\'s success in defying sanctions that have targeted its oil trade.
Figures show India imported about 200-thousand barrels per day of Iranian oil in September. This is roughly twice the figure for August. Earlier, similar market data showed that Iran had succeeded in becoming the top oil exporter to China in September after a series of slowdowns over the past months. Iran\'s Petroleum Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh had earlier said that serious plans were on agenda to boost the country\'s oil exports by four times. That would be in the face of illegal sanctions by the U-S and its allies that primarily target Iran\'s oil trade.
0m:43s
6505
[31 Oct 2013] The Debate - EU Anti-US Outrage - English
Europe is in an uproar over US spying: Two days after Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany telephoned President Obama to complain about the...
Europe is in an uproar over US spying: Two days after Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany telephoned President Obama to complain about the monitoring of her cellphone, she joined fellow European leaders at a summit meeting in Brussels last week in sending a delegation to the US to seek answers, in addition to her own delegation. In this debate, we\'ll discuss which European countries are the latest to feel the sting of spying, and look at statements from the top US intelligence official contradicts President Obama and White House officials, saying that they were aware of spying on allies.
23m:30s
6301
[31 Oct 2013] Muslim Brotherhood calls for daily rallies ahead of Morsi...
Supporters of Egypt\'s ousted president Mohamed Morsi call for daily protests ahead of his trial.
The Muslim Brotherhood and its allies have...
Supporters of Egypt\'s ousted president Mohamed Morsi call for daily protests ahead of his trial.
The Muslim Brotherhood and its allies have issued a statement urging Egyptians to rally in squares to protest against the trial of Morsi and his top aides. The ousted president\'s trial will begin on Monday. The statement also calls on people to gather near Cairo\'s Tora prison, where Morsi\'s trial is expected to take place. Morsi and 14 of his top aides will be tried over charges of inciting violence. Egypt has been witnessing street protests since the army toppled Morsi in early July. The army has killed hundreds of protesters since then.
4m:30s
6277
Shaitaan Defeated today- Imam Khomeini on event of Hostage of US embasy...
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says Iranian youths were more than three decades ahead of their time when they...
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says Iranian youths were more than three decades ahead of their time when they called the former US Embassy in Tehran the den of espionage.
The Leader was addressing a group of school and university students on the occasion of the Student Day which coincides with the takeover of the former US Embassy in Tehran by revolutionary students on November 4, 1979.
“On that day, our youths named the US Embassy the \'den of espionage’ and today, after over three decades, US embassies in the European countries, which are American allies, are called nest of espionage,” said the Leader on Sunday, adding, “This shows that our youths were over 30 years ahead of the world calendar.”
“The arrogant approach taken by the US has caused nations to distrust and loathe it. Moreover, experience has shown that any nation and government that trusts the US will be harmed, even if they are friends of the US,” the Leader noted.
Ayatollah Khamenei also pointed to the ongoing nuclear negotiations between Iran and the UN Security Council\'s permanent members - Russia, China, France, the US and UK - plus Germany and defended the Iranian negotiating team against criticism.
The Leader warned that no one should undermine or insult the negotiating team or label them as being inclined toward reaching a compromise over Iran\'s nuclear energy program.
Ayatollah Khamenei stated that the negotiations will not harm the Iranian nation, but will be an experience for the nation, which will increase their analysis and thinking capacity, much like the experience of temporary suspension of uranium enrichment in 2003-2004.
The Leader once again voiced skepticism about US intentions, saying, “A smiling enemy should not be trusted.”
“I’m not optimistic about the ongoing negotiations because it is not known whether the nation will achieve its desired results. However, we believe there is no harm in such an experience provided that the nation is vigilant and knows what is going on,” said Ayatollah Khamenei.
The Leader added, “The nuclear issue is merely a pretext and if, hypothetically, this issue is resolved with us backing down, they will find tens of other pretexts such as [Iran\'s] missile achievements, the Iranian nation’s opposition to the Zionist regime [of Israel], and the Islamic Republic’s support for the Resistance [Movement] to continue enmity with [our] beloved Iran,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.
The Leader advised Iranian officials to carefully observe the statements and actions of the other side of the negotiations because “on the one hand, they smile and express willingness for dialogue, but on the other hand, they immediately say ‘all options are on the table.’”
6m:37s
6976
[03 Nov 2013] US AfPak envoy acknowledges West costly mistakes in Afghan...
A senior member of the US administration has admitted that the West has made mistakes in the Afghanistan war. US president\'s special...
A senior member of the US administration has admitted that the West has made mistakes in the Afghanistan war. US president\'s special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan says those mistakes have claimed unnecessary lives and prolonged the war. James Dobbins also said that sidelining Iran and Russia after the invasion of Afghanistan by the U-S and its allies was wrong. Dobbins stressed that Tehran and Moscow can play their part in rebuilding the country after the withdrawal of U-S-led foreign forces from Afghanistan.
3m:28s
5048
[03 Nov 2013] Ayatollah Khamenei defends Iranian negotiating team - English
The Leader of Iran\\\\\\\'s Islamic Revolution has said Iranian youths were more than three decades ahead of their time when they called the former...
The Leader of Iran\\\\\\\'s Islamic Revolution has said Iranian youths were more than three decades ahead of their time when they called the former US embassy in Tehran the nest of espionage.
Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei was speaking to a group of school and university students on the occasion of Student Day in Iran. The Leader referred to the fallout from US spying activities on other countries. He said the term is now being applied by Washington\\\\\\\'s closest allies to refer to US diplomatic missions on their soil. Ayatollah Khamenei further spoke of the talks between Iran and the UN Security Council\\\\\\\'s permanent members plus Germany. The Leader defended the Iranian negotiating team against criticism inside Iran. Ayatollah Khamenei said the Iranian negotiators are shouldering a tough responsibility, and advised against criticism that undermines officials on duty. The Leader however reiterated his skepticism of US intentions, adding a smiling enemy cannot be trusted. Ayatollah Khamenei said American officials claim they are willing to negotiate with Iran but at the same time they say all options are on the table.
6m:17s
20123
[03 Nov 2013] Ayatollah Khamenei defends Iranian negotiating team - English
The Leader of Iran\\\\\\\'s Islamic Revolution has said Iranian youths were more than three decades ahead of their time when they called the former...
The Leader of Iran\\\\\\\'s Islamic Revolution has said Iranian youths were more than three decades ahead of their time when they called the former US embassy in Tehran the nest of espionage.
Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei was speaking to a group of school and university students on the occasion of Student Day in Iran. The Leader referred to the fallout from US spying activities on other countries. He said the term is now being applied by Washington\\\\\\\'s closest allies to refer to US diplomatic missions on their soil. Ayatollah Khamenei further spoke of the talks between Iran and the UN Security Council\\\\\\\'s permanent members plus Germany. The Leader defended the Iranian negotiating team against criticism inside Iran. Ayatollah Khamenei said the Iranian negotiators are shouldering a tough responsibility, and advised against criticism that undermines officials on duty. The Leader however reiterated his skepticism of US intentions, adding a smiling enemy cannot be trusted. Ayatollah Khamenei said American officials claim they are willing to negotiate with Iran but at the same time they say all options are on the table.
1m:45s
19710
[03 Nov 2013] Leader defends Iranian negotiating team - English
The Leader of Iran\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s Islamic Revolution has said Iranian youths were more than three decades ahead of their time when they called...
The Leader of Iran\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s Islamic Revolution has said Iranian youths were more than three decades ahead of their time when they called the former US embassy in Tehran the nest of espionage. Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei was speaking to a group of school and university students on the occasion of Student Day in Iran. The Leader referred to the fallout from US spying activities on other countries. He said the term is now being applied by Washington\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s closest allies to refer to US diplomatic missions on their soil. Ayatollah Khamenei further spoke of the talks between Iran and the UN Security Council\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s permanent members plus Germany. The Leader defended the Iranian negotiating team against criticism inside Iran. Ayatollah Khamenei said the Iranian negotiators are shouldering a tough responsibility, and advised against criticism that undermines officials on duty. The Leader however reiterated his skepticism of US intentions, adding a smiling enemy cannot be trusted. Ayatollah Khamenei said American officials claim they are willing to negotiate with Iran but at the same time they say all options are on the table.
5m:24s
18692
[03 Nov 2013] Leader: US has lost its political & military power in...
The Leader of Iran\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s Islamic Revolution says the United States has lost its political and military power and turned into a country...
The Leader of Iran\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s Islamic Revolution says the United States has lost its political and military power and turned into a country grappling with its biggest economic and financial problems. He was addressing a group of school and university students on the occasion of Student Day in Iran. Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said the U-S is suffering from political problems and divisions which led to the recent shutdown of the federal government. The Leader noted that Iran\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s current economic hardships pale in comparison with those of the US administration. Ayatollah Khamenei said US officials made projections some 11 years ago about having 14-thousand billion dollars in extra revenues by 2011 or 2012, and that now, in practice, they are suffering from a huge 17-thousand billion dollar deficit. Iran\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s Leader said that this alone shows America\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s true economic situation and the inaccuracy of their official calculations. Ayatollah Khamenei also made mention of deep divisions among Washington\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s allies, saying that the U-S has failed to convince even its closest partners like France or Britain to back its decision on launching a strike against Syria.
6m:25s
20851
[06 Nov 2013] The Debate - Seeking Syria Solution - English
The US and Russia have come to the conclusion that there is no military solution to Syria\'s crisis and all efforts must be focused on a political...
The US and Russia have come to the conclusion that there is no military solution to Syria\'s crisis and all efforts must be focused on a political roadmap. Some US allies notably Saudi Arabia still insist President Bashar al Assad\'s government should be toppled militarily. Delayed for months, the Geneva Two peace conference aims to resolve the crisis through dialog between the Syrian government and a yet undecided opposition that includes al Qaeda-affiliated militants bent on continuing a deadly terrorist campaign. So how near is a political solution?
23m:54s
6536
[08 Nov 2013] The Debate - Nuclear Negotiations - English
On the nuclear talks between Iran and the permanent members of the UN, known as the P5+1, A breakthrough seems to be on the horizon after years of...
On the nuclear talks between Iran and the permanent members of the UN, known as the P5+1, A breakthrough seems to be on the horizon after years of negotiating.
Iran\'s new nuclear negotiating team, headed by FM Mohammad Javad Zarif, may be able to get Iran what it was always entitled to based on international law: its inalienable right to civilian nuclear technology, without giving up its right to nuclear enrichment.
In this debate, we\'ll discuss the possibilities of reaching this deal, and its political ramifications, both regionally and beyond.
But how serious and sincere are the US and its European allies in the talks as they derailed at least two earlier agreements?
23m:16s
6517
[17 Nov 2013] The Debate - US Afghan Security Pact - English
Afghan president Hamid Karzai has given a thumbs up to extend the presence of US troops beyond 2014. However he has also said that the Loya Jirga...
Afghan president Hamid Karzai has given a thumbs up to extend the presence of US troops beyond 2014. However he has also said that the Loya Jirga or the assembly of elders must approve the security pact between Kabul and Washington. Many Afghan citizens want Washington to leave their country. The central issue for the assembly is the issue of immunity for American troops that will remain in the country after the withdrawal of its allies\' forces by the end of 2014. What will this do to Afghanistan? And why does the US want to stay in Afghanistan, when more and more Americans are dissatisfied with the deteriorating socio-economic conditions back home?
23m:33s
6732
[22 Nov 2013] Afghanistan rejects a US demand to sign a bilateral...
Afghanistan rejects the U-S demand that Kabul sign a security deal between the two countries as soon as possible.
A spokesman for Afghan...
Afghanistan rejects the U-S demand that Kabul sign a security deal between the two countries as soon as possible.
A spokesman for Afghan President Hamid Karzai says the agreement must wait until after next year\'s presidential election, even if it\'s approved by the Loya Jirga and the parliament. This, after the White House said Karzai\'s failure to sign the Bilateral Security Agreement, or B-S-A, by the end of this year would prevent Washington and its allies from planning for post-20-14 presence in Afghanistan. On Thursday, Karzai said he was willing to delay the signing of the B-S-A until after next year\'s presidential election. However, ordinary Afghans are angry over raids by American and other foreign troops. And they\'ve held protests against the security deal with the U-S.
3m:57s
6553
[28 Nov 2013] Syrian army retakes control of town near Damascus - English
Syrian army has retaken control of a town near the capital Damascus after fierce battles with foreign-backed insurgents.
The battles raged on...
Syrian army has retaken control of a town near the capital Damascus after fierce battles with foreign-backed insurgents.
The battles raged on around Deir Atiyah in Qalamoun area that links Damascus to the central city of Homs and east of the capital. The Syrian army has launched a new round of mop-up operations. Clashes are also underway in Marj area near the capital. Some reports say, the army forces have killed at least nine insurgents in the area. Syria has been gripped by deadly violence since March 2011. Damascus accuses the West and its regional allies of fueling tension by providing the insurgents with money and weapons.
2m:58s
6257
[30 Nov 2013] Federal officials warn Americans fighting in Syria pose...
US officials have warned that Americans joining militants fighting to topple the Syrian government pose a security threat at home.
Federal...
US officials have warned that Americans joining militants fighting to topple the Syrian government pose a security threat at home.
Federal officials say American militants could become radicalized by al-Qaeda-linked militant groups and return to the US as security risks. The State Department says it has no estimates of how many Americans have taken up weapons in the nearly 3-year-old conflict. But analysts put the number at two dozen. So far this year, three US residents have been charged with planning to fight alongside the terrorist group, al-Nusrah Front in Syria. The US and some of its Arab allies including Saudi Arabia have openly supported an armed opposition in Syria and called for a regime change.
3m:0s
5772
[06 Dec 2013] US to keep up military role in Persian Gulf region despite...
The U-S Secretary of Defense says Washington has no plans to scale back its military presence in the Persian Gulf region despite a diplomatic...
The U-S Secretary of Defense says Washington has no plans to scale back its military presence in the Persian Gulf region despite a diplomatic opening with Iran.
Chuck Hagel made the comment at a U-S base in Bahrain. The Pentagon chief is visiting several Arab states in the region. The tour is part of an effort by the White House to soothe the perceived concerns of U-S allies over the deal reached between Iran and the P5+1 on November 24th. The United States has an active presence in the region from Oman and the U-A-E to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait.
4m:18s
6348
[11 Dec 2013] US and Britain suspended military assistance to Free...
The U-S and Britain have suspended military assistance to the so-called Free Syrian Army in northern Syria after al-Qaeda-linked insurgents seized...
The U-S and Britain have suspended military assistance to the so-called Free Syrian Army in northern Syria after al-Qaeda-linked insurgents seized the weapons depots belonging to the F-S-A there.
The so-called Islamic Front, which is an umbrella group of al-Qaeda-affiliated rings, captured the arms depots of the Western-backed Free Syrian Army. The seizure near the Bab el-Hawa border crossing with Turkey came after the Islamic Front, which is backed by regional allies of the U-S, announced that it rejected the authority of the F-S-A command. The militant group was formed just last month when six insurgent groups merged together to try and create a new Islamic Emirate in the crisis-hit Arab country.
0m:41s
5748
[19 Dec 2013] 67 Percent of Americans think going to war in Afghanistan...
A new opinion poll shows that most Americans disapprove of their country\'s invasion of Afghanistan.
According to the Associated Press poll, 57...
A new opinion poll shows that most Americans disapprove of their country\'s invasion of Afghanistan.
According to the Associated Press poll, 57 percent of Americans said the U-S move was wrong in the first place. 53 percent of the respondents also said the pace of U-S withdrawal from Afghanistan is too slow. The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in the wake of the nine-eleven attacks of 2001 in New York. At least three-thousand-four-hundred and four foreign troops have so far been killed in the country, nearly 23-hundred of them are American. Other polls have also shown in recent years that the war is one of the most unpopular US military expeditions abroad in American history.
3m:30s
5953
[20 Dec 2013] Comment - China raps US over China Sea meddling - English
China has warned the United States to be cautious in its words and actions with regard to territorial disputes involving China and its neighbors....
China has warned the United States to be cautious in its words and actions with regard to territorial disputes involving China and its neighbors.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry warning comes amid a diplomatic wrangle over Beijing\\\'s newly announced air defense zone in the East China Sea.
Before this, Washington had warned Beijing against imposing an air defense zone over both the South China Sea and East China Sea.
US State Secretary John Kerry said recently that Washington would help its regional allies in protecting their territorial waters.
China and its neighbors lay similar claims to parts of the strategic and resource-rich seas.
The development comes days after Chinese fighter jets chased the US and Japanese military aircraft inside China\\\'s newly declared Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the East China Sea.
Chinese defense authorities say they have sent more fighter jets to the zone. The Chinese air force described the mission as a defensive measure in line with international law.
China says foreign aircraft passing through the airspace, including passenger planes, will have to identify themselves to Chinese authorities. The zone includes the skies over islands at the heart of a territorial dispute between Japan and China.
China is also locked in territorial rows with the Philippines over wide swathes of the South China Sea and has said it might set up a similar zone there. Senior Chinese officials have repeatedly called on Washington not to take sides over the issue.
48m:16s
6560
[23 Dec 2013] Deputy FM: Iran will respond to American officials...
Iran\\\'s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi says Tehran will respond to unthoughtful and inaccurate remarks by American officials.
Araqchi...
Iran\\\'s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi says Tehran will respond to unthoughtful and inaccurate remarks by American officials.
Araqchi said that Iran will continue nuclear talks with the P-five-plus-one group of countries with goodwill despite the fact that American officials have adopted a contradictory stance since the Geneva deal. Araqchi named blacklisting some Iranian entities and pressures from the US Treasury Department on other countries as examples of that policy. According to Araqchi, comments and actions by US official have been provocative and against the spirit of cooperation, required for the implementation of the November 24 deal. The diplomat noted that Tehran has advised American officials against trying to resolve their internal problems or tensions with their allies at the expense of the Iranian nation\\\'s rights.
0m:51s
6350
[24 Dec 2013] US whistleblower happy with leaking NSA surveillance...
Six months ago, American whistleblower Edward Snowden started leaking the US National Security Agency\\\'s surveillance documents. Now the former...
Six months ago, American whistleblower Edward Snowden started leaking the US National Security Agency\\\'s surveillance documents. Now the former NSA contractor says his mission has been accomplished.
In an interview with The Washington Post, Snowden has said he\\\'s happy because the public is now informed about the US massive sweep of Internet and phone records. This is Snowden\\\'s first in-person interview since his June arrival in Russia under temporary asylum, that will expire in August. US federal prosecutors have filed a criminal complaint against Snowden, charging him with espionage and felony theft of government property. But Snowden says he\\\'s working to improve the NSA, adding this is the only thing Washington does not realize. Snowden\\\'s revelations have outraged civil liberties advocates. Even US allies have been angered by reports that Washington has been monitoring their leaders\\\' cellphone calls and other virtual communications.
0m:59s
5501
[24 Dec 2013] Fears of Presidential Vacuum High in Lebanon - English
Lebanese President Michel Suleiman is urging rival political factions to ensure the needed quorum in parliament for the election of Lebanon\\\'s...
Lebanese President Michel Suleiman is urging rival political factions to ensure the needed quorum in parliament for the election of Lebanon\\\'s next president.Suleiman\\\'s six-year-term expires in May 2014 and is preceded by a two-month constitutional period.
Lebanon\\\'s first man has also kicked off talks with Lebanese rival factions in a bid to help Prime-Minister Designate \\\"Tammam Salam\\\" form a cabinet line-up prior to the two-month constitutional period. The cabinet line-up formation however has been in limbo for the past 9 months namely due to the Saudi-backed March 14 Bloc\\\'s boycott of parliamentary sessions citing Hezbollah\\\'s intervention in Syria as a pretext. The Saudi-backed March 14th Bloc is now calling for a neutral line-up while the Hezbollah-led March 8th is calling for an all-embracing cabinet while rejecting a De-Facto one. The proposal of a neutral cabinet has also been slammed by Lebanese Druze Leader Walid Jumblat who warned it would be a \\\"leap into the unknown\\\". Meanwhile, the Free Patriotic Movement has accused the March 14th Bloc of paving the way for a presidential vacuum through the continued boycott of parliamentary sessions dubbing the movement\\\'s obstruction of government institutions as part of instructions taken from their regional allies pre-Geneva II talks. The Free Patriotic Movement MP also highlighted what he described as an alarming pledge by Riyadh\\\'s ambassador to London who vowed continued military and financial support for the foreign-backed groups fighting in Syria even if Saudi Arabia goes it alone. The MP warned the March 14th Bloc of following their Saudi ally\\\'s footsteps as well. Though Lebanon\\\'s President has vowed a smooth transition of power rebuffing any attempt to extend his mandate, fears of a vacuum at the presidential post are simmering in Beirut for their grave consequences on Lebanon. Lebanese leaders are warning that the presidential vacuum added to the cabinet limbo would tow the country into security, political and constitutional chaos.
2m:2s
6820
[27 Dec 2013] Riot police, anti-govt. protesters clash in Istanbul -...
Turkish riot police have attacked anti-government protesters with water cannons, tear gas, and plastic bullets in Istanbul.
The angry protesters...
Turkish riot police have attacked anti-government protesters with water cannons, tear gas, and plastic bullets in Istanbul.
The angry protesters were calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his government. More than 30 people were arrested in the clashes around Istanbul\\\'s Taksim Square. Similar demonstrations were held in the city of Izmir, and in the capital, Ankara, where police also fired water cannons to disperse the crowds. Erdogan is facing mounting pressure over the accusations he is trying to cover up a corruption and bribery scandal that has implicated his allies. But the prime minister claims the corruption probe is a \\\"smear campaign\\\" mounted by obscure international forces in order to undermine his government and the country\\\'s economy.
1m:11s
6323
[29 Dec 2013] Syrian army retakes control of Layramoun in north of...
Syrian armed forces continue making advances in Aleppo. The army has managed to retake a number of buildings in the district of Layramoun in the...
Syrian armed forces continue making advances in Aleppo. The army has managed to retake a number of buildings in the district of Layramoun in the city\\\'s north.
The area is considered the northern gateway into Aleppo. The army\\\'s advances stop foreign-backed militants from smuggling weapons into Aleppo from the northern part of the city. The achievement is the latest in a series of military operations against insurgents who receive military aid from their supporters in Western countries and their regional allies, especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
0m:31s
6027
[31 Dec 2013] Analysts: Riyadh seeking to escalate campaign against...
What is behind the surprise Saudi decision to provide 3 billion dollars worth of military aid to the Lebanese army?
The announcement of this...
What is behind the surprise Saudi decision to provide 3 billion dollars worth of military aid to the Lebanese army?
The announcement of this decision was recently made by Lebanese president Michel Suleiman, after Saudi King Abdullah and French president Francois Hollande apparently agreed on the issue during their summit in Riyadh. The deal says Paris is to play the role of the military supplier, while Riyadh will take care of the financing. No one has so far mentioned that the military aid could be used to deter Israel. Tel Aviv has launched wars on Lebanon ever since its existence but no such military aid has ever been granted to Lebanon. Moreover Israeli officials have not made any objections to this announcement. Hence the logical, widespread conclusion is that this step targets Hezbollah. In a recent visit by Suleiman to Riyadh, the Saudi Monarch reportedly called for the Lebanese army to stop Hezbollah from joining the fight in Syria. Many experts believe that this is a Saudi reaction to the role Hezbollah has played in thwarting Riyadh\\\'s agenda of toppling Syrian president Bashar Assad. Saudi Arabia\\\'s Lebanese allies in the March 14 movement appeared to confirm this view, with members of the movement describing this declaration as a blow to Hezbollah. Meanwhile, the designated supplier of the military aid, France, is believed to be the main force behind the recent E-U decision to blacklist the military wing of Hezbollah. Saudi Arabia is eager to escalate its campaign against Hezbollah, perhaps showing Washington that it can seek support elsewhere. France meanwhile welcomes the 3 billion dollar package, as it\\\'s trying to find ways to boost its austerity-hit economy. Now the main question is whether the deal could possibly change the Lebanese\\\'s anti-Israeli doctrine into an anti-Hezbollah stance?
2m:7s
8166
[19 Jan 14] Islamic Unity Conference - Full Speech by Leader Sayed Ali...
This video is the English audio transcription of the speech delivered on January 19, 2014 by Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic...
This video is the English audio transcription of the speech delivered on January 19, 2014 by Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, in a meeting with government officials and foreign participants of the 27th Conference on Islamic Unity. The meeting was held in Imam Khomeini Hussainiyah on the occasion of the birthday anniversaries of the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.) and Imam Sadiq (a.s.).
Supreme Leader\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s Speech in Meeting with Government Officials and Participants of Conference on Islam Print
19/01/2014
The following is the full text of the speech delivered on January 19, 2014 by Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, in a meeting with government officials and foreign participants of the 27th Conference on Islamic Unity. The meeting was held in Imam Khomeini Hussainiyah on the occasion of the birthday anniversaries of the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.) and Imam Sadiq (a.s.).
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
I would like to congratulate all of you dear audience who are present in this meeting, the dear guests of Unity Week, the ambassadors of Islamic countries and all the honorable officials who have accepted heavy responsibilities in the country, on the occasion of the auspicious birthday anniversaries of the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.) and his outstanding grandson - Imam Sadiq (a.s.). I would like to extend my congratulations to all the people of Iran, all Muslims and all liberated people throughout the world.
This auspicious birthday is the source of many blessings which have been bestowed on the lives of human beings over the course of many centuries. It has helped nations, peoples and humanity in general to achieve the best human, intellectual and mental qualities. It has helped them to create a lofty civilization and to achieve bright prospects for a better life. On this birthday anniversary, what is important for the world of Islam and the Islamic community is to pay attention to the Holy Prophet\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s (s.w.a.) expectations of the Islamic community and to try hard to meet these expectations.
The happiness of the world of Islam lies in this and nothing else. Islam emerged for the liberation of humanity- both liberation from the suppression and pressures of oppressive and dictatorial regimes which have ruled over all people and in order to form a just government for the entire humanity, and liberation from deceptive thoughts and illusions which dominate the lives of people and which make their lives deviate from the right path.
At a time when Islam was about to emerge, the Commander of the Faithful (peace and greetings be upon him) described the environment in which people were living as an environment of \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"fitna\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\":
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"At that time, people had fallen into fitna, whereby the rope of religion had been broken\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" [Nahjul Balaghah, Sermon 2]. Fitna means a dusty climate in which one cannot see anything. In such a climate, one cannot see the path and he does not know what to do. This was the conditions of the people who lived in that difficult area.
The same conditions dominated - in a different way - the lives of the people in great countries and civilizations which existed at that time. It is not the case that we can think the people who were living in the Arabian Peninsula at a time when Islamic was about to emerge had terrible conditions while other people living in other areas were happy. The domination of cruel and oppressive regimes, their indifference towards the position of human beings and human principles and the outbreak of disastrous wars which were waged by powers for the sake of power had destroyed the lives of people. History shows that the two well-known civilizations of those days - that is to say, the Persian Sassanid civilization and the Roman civilization - were in such terrible conditions that it makes one pity the masses of the people who were living in those societies. The living conditions of those people were terrible and they were living in captivity.
In such conditions, Islam came and freed people. This freedom first manifests itself in the hearts and souls of people. When one feels that he is free and when he feels the need to break chains, the forces inside him will be influenced by this feeling and then he can achieve social freedom if he shows determination and if he moves forward. Islam did this for people. The same message that Islam delivered at that time exists today in the world of Islam and in other parts of the world. The enemies of freedom kill the thought of freedom in people. When there is no thought of freedom, the movement towards freedom will either slow down or stop.
Today, what we Muslims should do is to try to achieve the kind of freedom that Islam wants. The independence of Muslim nations, the establishment of popular governments throughout the world of Islam, the participation of all people in making decisions and determining fates and their movement on the basis of Islamic sharia are things which liberate nations. Of course, Muslim nations feel that they need this movement today. This feeling exists throughout the world of Islam and without a doubt, it will finally achieve results.
If outstanding personalities - whether political, scientific and religious personalities - in Muslim countries carry out their responsibilities in the proper way, then the future of the world of Islam will be a bright one. Muslims are hopeful about this future. Today, the world of Islam feels that it is awake. It is exactly at this point that the enemies of Islam - those people who are opposed to Islamic Awakening, independence of nations and the domination of God\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s religion in all countries - enter the arena. It is exactly at this point that all kinds of tricks are used for creating obstacles in the way of Islamic societies. And the most important trick that they use is creating discord.
It is 65 years now that the world of arrogance has been trying with all its power to impose the existence of the Zionist regime on Muslim nations and to make them accept this regime. But it has failed. We should not look at some countries and governments which are willing to act against their national interests in order to safeguard the interests of their foreign friends - who are the enemies of Islam - and to consign Islamic interests to oblivion. Peoples are opposed to the presence of the Zionists.
It is 65 years now that they have been trying to erase the memory of Palestine, but they have failed. During the 33-day war in Lebanon and during the 22-day war and - for the second time - the eight-day war in Gaza which were waged in recent years, Muslim nations and the Islamic Ummah showed that they are alive. The Islamic Ummah showed that despite the investment of America and other western powers, it has managed to preserve its identity, to slap the fake and imposed Zionist regime across the face and to frustrate the allies of oppressive Zionists who did their best during this time to preserve this imposed, oppressive and criminal regime. The Islamic Ummah showed that it has not forgotten about Palestine. This is a very important issue.
It is in such conditions that the enemy is focusing all its efforts on making the Islamic Ummah forget about Palestine. How do they want to do this? They want to do this by creating discord, waging domestic wars, promoting deviant extremism in the name of Islam, religion and Islamic sharia. They want a group of people to say takfiri things against Muslims. The existence of these takfiri orientations which have emerged in the world of Islam is good news for arrogance and the enemies of the world of Islam. It is these takfiri orientations that attract the attention of Muslims towards insignificant issues instead of letting them pay attention to the truth about the existence of the malevolent Zionist regime.
This is the exact opposite of what Islam wants. Islam has asked Muslims to be \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"strong against unbelievers, (but) compassionate amongst each other\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" [The Holy Quran, 48, 29]. Muslims should be strong against the enemies of religion. They should stand firm and they should not be influenced by the enemies. Being \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"strong against unbelievers\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" is the clear message of this ayah. Muslims should be compassionate towards one another, they should stay together and join hands and they should hold fast to the rope which Allah stretches out for them. This is the command of Islam.
Now what happens if an orientation emerges which divides Muslims into believers and unbelievers, which targets a group of people as unbelievers and which pits Muslims against one another? Who can doubt the role of arrogance and the security services of arrogant and malevolent governments in creating, supporting and enriching these orientations and in equipping them with weapons? These arrogant powers sit and plan for this. The world of Islam should attend to this issue because it is a grave danger.
Unfortunately, a number of Muslim governments unwittingly add fuel to the fire of this discord. They do not understand that fueling this discord will kindle a fire which will burn them as well. This is what arrogance wants: they want a group of Muslims to wage a war against another group of Muslims.
Those who give rise to this war are people who benefit from the money provided by puppet rulers. These puppet rulers give them money and weapons in order to pit people in such and such a country against one another. This move has been reinforced by arrogance in the past three, four years during which a wave of Islamic Awakening has emerged in a number of Islamic and Arabic countries. They want to do this in order to overshadow Islamic Awakening. By making this move, they are pitting Muslims against one another.
Moreover, the propaganda networks of the enemies are projecting an ugly image of Islam for public opinion throughout the world. They are doing this by magnifying events. What do people think of Islam when media networks show a person who is devouring the liver of another person in the name of Islam? The enemies of Islam have planned this.
These are not things that happen all of a sudden and out of the blue. These are things for which many plans have been devised over a long period of time. There are different policies and spy rings behind these moves. There is big money behind these moves. Muslims should confront any phenomenon which is against their unity. This is a great responsibility for all of us. Both Shia and Sunni Muslims, and different groups which exist among Shia and Sunni Muslims should shoulder this responsibility.
Unity means reliance on common points. We have many common points. Muslims\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\' common points are more than their disagreements and therefore, they should rely on them. The main responsibility in this regard falls on the shoulders of outstanding personalities - whether political, scientific or religious personalities. Religious scholars in the world of Islam should prevent Muslims from creating sectarian and religious discord. Academic scholars should help students understand that today, unity is the most important issue in the world of Islam. The most important issue is unity for the sake of reaching goals. These goals are achieving political independence, establishing religious democracy and observing divine rules in Islamic societies.
Islam invites people to freedom, dignity and honor. This is an obligation and responsibility today. Political personalities too should know that their dignity and honor lies in their reliance on Muslim peoples, not on foreigners and those who are arch enemies of Islamic societies.
One day, arrogant powers dominated people everywhere in Islamic regions. One day, policies carried out by America and before that England and other countries, dominated the lives of people in Islamic regions. Nations gradually managed to liberate themselves from this direct domination. In the present time, the enemies want to replace this direct domination, which they imposed during the era of imperialism, with indirect domination - that is to say, political, economic and cultural domination. Of course, in some areas they are imposing this direct domination again. As you see, a number of European countries want to create the same situation which existed in the past in Africa.
The path is Islamic Awakening. The path is awareness about the position of Muslim nations. Muslim nations have many resources, they have sensitive geographical locations, they have a very valuable historical legacy and they have unique economic resources. If Muslims collect themselves, find their true identity, rely on themselves and extend the hand of friendship, then this region will be an outstanding and enlightened region and the world of Islam will witness dignity, greatness and honor.
By Allah\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s favor, this is what will happen in the future. One can see the signs of this future such as the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran and the establishment and stability of the Islamic Republic in this sensitive region.
It is 35 years now that arrogant regimes - including America and other powers - have been doing their best to work against the Islamic Republic and the people of Iran. Despite this, the people of Iran and the Islamic Republic are becoming stronger, more rooted, more powerful and more influential on a daily basis. By Allah\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s favor, this strength, this stability and this power will increase in the future.
In the world of Islam too, one sees that the awareness of people and youth about Islam and the future of Islam has increased compared to the past. In some countries, people are much more aware than they were in the past. Of course, the enemy is making some efforts, but if we look carefully and vigilantly, we will see that - by Allah\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s favor - this wave of Islamic movement is going forward.
God\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s mercy be upon our magnanimous Imam (r.a.) who opened up this path for us. He taught us that we should rely on God, ask Him alone for help and be hopeful about the future. Then, we moved forward on this path and by Allah\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s favor, we will continue to do this. I hope that Islam and Muslims achieve victory and I ask God to bestow His mercy and forgiveness on the martyrs of this bright path.
Greetings be upon you and Allah\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s mercy and blessings
Source: http://english.khamenei.ir//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1859
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