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The United States, Poland, and the three Baltic states have voiced concern over Russia\'s deployment of nuclear-capable missiles close to the four European Union countries\' borders. US State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf confirmed that the US had urged Russia to not take steps that would destabilize the region. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Igor Konashen-kov says the missiles will be deployed in Kaliningrad in the Western Military District. For years, Russia threatened to deploy missiles in response to the United States\' plan to install a NATO missile system in Eastern Europe. Moscow says the NATO missiles are a threat to Russian national security. Russian media reports say the newly-deployed missiles can hit NATO targets located in Poland, Lithuania, and even Germany.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has voiced doubt about Washington\'s determination to reach an agreement on Iran\'s nuclear energy program. Iran\'s foreign minister said Washington\'s talk about new sanctions in recent months has caused a great deal of concern in Iran about whether the U-S is serious about wanting to reach an agreement. He said it is still possible to reach a deal on Iran\'s nuclear energy program because they have no other option and the only way to resolve the issue is through negotiations. Zarif made the remarks on the first day of talks in Vienna between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany on reaching a permanent agreement on Iran\'s nuclear program. Earlier, Zarif said that the deal is achievable but would take more than one or two sittings to reach.

Syrians stage mass anti-US rally Mature (BBC NEWS) -- Thousands of people have held a peaceful demonstration in Damascus against an alleged US raid on a village that Syria says killed eight people. Riot police armed with batons and shields surrounded the US embassy in Damascus, which closed due to what it said were increased security concerns. The US state department and the White House have refused to confirm, deny or comment on The assault claimed the lives of eight civilians, including a father and his four sons. They protestos said the act of aggression is a flagrant violation of international law and a form of systematic terrorism exercised by the American administration on the Arab world, Lebanese Al-Manar TV reported. Damascus witnessed a huge public demonstration in protest to the US act of aggression which targeted the al-Sukkariah farm outside Abu Kamal. The protestors, who came from student, women, civic societies, religious and trade union activists, voiced condemnation of the American crime which targeted peaceful building workers on a farm outside the town of Abu Kamal near the border with Iraq on Sunday. The protestors called on the international community to put an end to reckless US arrogance, appealing to international organizations to condemn such acts of terrorism and take the needed procedures to put on trial the aggressors who show disregard for international laws, norms and charters. The US Embassy in Damascus was closed Thursday because of security concerns related to the protest. The Syrian government has ordered the closure of a US school, expected within a week, and the immediate closing of the American cultural center linked to the embassy. The US Embassy meanwhile warned Americans on Thursday to be vigilant. The announcement raises concerns about the safety of US citizens in Syria. In Washington, State Department deputy spokesman Robert Wood said Wednesday that Syria had formally notified the US of the closure order for the cultural center, effective immediately, and the school by November 6. Wood said Washington was considering how to respond and stressed the US expects the Syrian government to provide adequate security for the buildings housing the cultural center and the Damascus Community School.

The war in Libya has left many scars on the country. A number of countries and rights groups have voiced concern about what they call indiscriminate bombardment by Western nations leading the military intervention. Johnny Miller in Ajdabiyah, reports on the collateral damage caused by the air-war against Libya.

The Bahraini regime forces backed by troops from Saudi Arabia have once again attacked protesters in the tiny Persian Gulf littoral state. Security forces on Friday fired teargas and sound grenades at the demonstrating crowds in several towns and villages around the Bahraini capital, Manama. Clashes then erupted between government forces and the pro-democracy protesters demanding the ouster of the Al Khalifa regime. Several people were injured during the demonstrations. The protesters also voiced their anger at the US government for its support of the Manama regime. Anti-American sentiments are high in Bahrain after Washington announced earlier this month that it would resume arms sales to Bahrain. However, Bahraini opposition groups and activists condemned the decision, saying it could encourage further human rights violations in the Persian Gulf country. Press TV has conducted an interview with Kamel Wazni, political analyst, to hear his opinion on this issue. The following is a rough transcription of the interview. Press TV: First of all we are hearing slogans on the streets in Bahrain against the United States now besides those slogans that were against the regime. People it seems are now very strongly and clearly saying that they want the United States to cut its support for the Manama regime, however we are seeing that support continue. Do you think that these slogans are going to be heard by Washington? Wazni: Obviously they will resonate in the White House and on the streets of America because this is the voice of the people and for very long time the Americans felt they are not mentioned on the streets and the Americans know sometimes this hostility that is taking place by the Bahrainis because they continue support of the Americans for the Bahraini regime and the approval of the Americans to sell weapons and arms to the Bahraini regime despite the crackdown that is taking place by the Bahraini regime against the civilian demonstrators of the country. I think there is voice on the streets saying anyone who sided with the criminals who are committing crimes against humanity should be condemned and today because the Bahraini authority, the Bahraini monarchy is committing crime and America being accomplice to this crime, then you see the people are voicing their sentiment and making their voice to be heard across the world. They are not intimidated, they are not afraid. They wanted democratic system and a country, that is the basic principle of human dignity to live free in his own or her own country where will be no discrimination, no crackdown, no torture. This is the basic principle of any human wanted to live in peace and prosperity and the Americans by siding with the Bahraini regime preventing the aspiration of the Bahraini people to make this happen so the Americans should not be shocked by what they are hearing. That is what they actually worked on by helping the Bahraini authority and if Obama is listening and Mrs. Clinton should listen to the human rights when they actually condemn the torture that is taking place by the Bahraini government. The systematic torture that is taking [place] day after day should be heard by the American administration. There are a lot of committees being established by the UN bodies, by even the King and they all indicated there is a huge torture and killing taking place on the streets of Bahrain. So is anybody listening? Press TV: What you referred there to the United Nations also other human rights groups we know for instance that the UN Human Rights Council recently in Geneva started to discuss the situation in Bahrain. We know groups like Amnesty International and other human rights organizations in and outside of Bahrain have been saying they have documents and proved that these violations are taking place but does that mean that they are going to give any support to the Bahraini revolutionaries and do you think without that support on the ground the Bahraini revolution can get anywhere? Wazni: Well obviously the public opinion on the international appeal is important but eventually the legwork has to be done by the people of Bahrain because the people of Bahrain made a pledge and they are determined to carry their own cause despite all the obstacles and all the atrocity that is committed by the Bahraini regime against the civilian in Bahrain. But having the public support of the international community from the UN, from other bodies is actually attested to the reality that is taking place. There is a crime taking place in Bahrain by the monarchy, by the royal family supported by the Americans and somebody has to listen but I do not think the Bahraini people are counting on the West or the Americans because they think the Americans are participant in what is taking place in Bahrain and despite all of that they have the will and the determination to carry their cause to the end. They know the sacrifice and they are willing to take that sacrifice and we hear the leadership of the Bahraini talking, when we hear Sheikh Ghasem say this is the will of the people and they will carry their duty to bring honorable justice to Bahrain despite all the killing and torture [that] is committed by the Bahraini with the help of the Saudis. The people will prevail in the end, will be costly process but you have to trust the people and the people will carry their duties.

[26 May 2012] US accomplice to Bahraini regime's crimes - English The Bahraini regime forces backed by troops from Saudi Arabia have once again attacked protesters in the tiny Persian Gulf littoral state. Security forces on Friday fired teargas and sound grenades at the demonstrating crowds in several towns and villages around the Bahraini capital, Manama. Clashes then erupted between government forces and the pro-democracy protesters demanding the ouster of the Al Khalifa regime. Several people were injured during the demonstrations. The protesters also voiced their anger at the US government for its support of the Manama regime. Anti-American sentiments are high in Bahrain after Washington announced earlier this month that it would resume arms sales to Bahrain. However, Bahraini opposition groups and activists condemned the decision, saying it could encourage further human rights violations in the Persian Gulf country.

[14 June 2012] Chomsky European states follow US lead in supporting Israel impunity - English US President Barack Obama once again has voiced unwavering support for Tel Aviv, reiterating that Washington is "decidedly more attentive" to Israel than it is to the Palestinians. Obama made the remarks at meeting with a visiting delegation of the US Orthodox Jewish community. He also called on the audience not to cast doubts on his loyalty to his Israeli allies. Press TV has conducted an interview with Noam Chomsky, Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, to further discuss the issue.

Speech by the secretary general of Hizbullah, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, on the 6th Anniversary of the 33 Day War (July 2006). Hezbollah will surprise Israel in any future war: Nasrallah Marking the sixth anniversary of Israel\\\'s war against Lebanon in the summer of 2006, Hezbollah says the resistance movement will surprise Tel Aviv in any future war. The Lebanese Resistance Movement said it has the capability to be victorious in any future war, Hezbollah Secretary General Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah stated in a televised speech on Wednesday night. \\\"Israelis are still suffering from the shock of their defeat in the 33-day war,\\\" Nasrallah said, noting that the Israeli regime is still investigating the reasons behind their defeat in the 2006 war. \\\"Two hundred and fifty rockets were launched at Israel on the last day of the July war,\\\" he said, recalling how the then Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert described the defeat as \\\'catastrophic\\\'. Hezbollah\\\'s leader took pride in the military achievements of the Lebanese movement, emphasizing that its rockets are capable of hitting targets as far as Haifa and Tel Aviv. Nasrallah voiced support for the Lebanese army and highlighted the need for national unity within Lebanon as the key to counter the US-Israeli strategy of fomenting sectarian disputes in the country and the region. \\\"The July [2006] was an Israeli trick,\\\" he pointed out, noting that if Hezbollah had been defeated, Israel would have expanded the war to Syria. \\\"The second stage of the Israeli attack was aimed at bringing down President Bashar al-Assad\\\'s government,\\\" Nasrallah added, noting that Hezbollah\\\'s victory in Lebanon thwarted this objective and prevented Syria from falling under the US-Israeli scheme. Hezbollah\\\'s leader blamed the West, headed by the United States, for preventing dialogue on Syria and supporting terrorist activities in the country. \\\"There is a US-Israeli project against Syria,\\\" he stated. \\\"The US and Israel consider Syria as a problem, because Syria is a real supporter of resistance.\\\" The Lebanese leader also accused the West of heaping pressure on Iran because of its support for the Palestinian cause. He scoffed at the US attempts to undermine Iran\\\'s sovereignty, pointing out how all this pressure from the West has strengthened the Islamic Republic. http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/07/18/251614/hezbollah-will-surprise-israeli-army/

[21 Oct 2012] Lebanon March 14th coalition calls for day of rage - English

What are the two parties at confrontation? Who benefits from this unrest? What are the intentions of the Zionists & Terrorists?

TEHRAN, March 20 -- Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei called the Iranian calendar year of 1392 the Year of Political and Economic Epic. In a televised new year address, Ayatollah Khamenei voiced support for the industry and economic sector. The Supreme Leader congratulated Iranians nationwide, all Iranians who are living in different parts of the world and all other nations who celebrate Norouz [Iranian New Year], on the occasion of Norouz and the arrival of the new year. The Ayatollah particularly congratulated the honorable families of martyrs, the disabled war veterans and their families, all war veterans and all those who are active in different arenas in the country on the occasion. The Paramount Leader wished and prayed Allah the Exalted to bestow joy and happiness on the people of Iran in this new year and that He will frustrate the goals and efforts of the ill-wishers of the nation.

U-S Secretary of State John Kerry has visited Ramallah to meet Acting Palestinian Authority Chief Mahmoud Abbas. Kerry\'s visit is part of his fresh attempt to revive the so-called peace talks. But he was met by protests in Ramallah, where Palestinians voiced anger at Washington\'s support for Israel. The protesters also demanded an end to Israel\'s expansion of settlements and brutality against Palestinians.

http://www.almanar.com.lb/english/adetails.php?eid=103321&cid=23&fromval=1&frid=23&seccatid=14&s1=1 S. Nasrallah: EU Decision Means Involvement in any Israeli Aggression Eslam al-Rihani Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah said on Wednesday that the latest EU decision regarding Hezbollah will only doom to failure, advising the European states to soak their paper in water and drink it, for the Resistance will remain vital and victorious by the will of Allah Almighty. Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan NasrallahDuring his speech at the annual Iftar ceremony held by the Women\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s Committee of Islamic Resistance Support Association of Hezbollah, Sayyed Nasrallah noted that the resistance has its own presence and influence in the regional equations, and has been always a concern at the Lebanese, Arab, regional and international levels, whether positively or negatively. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"A positive interest from those who believe in the resistance, pin their hopes on it and consider it to be a source of pride, and negative interest from those who consider it a source of threat for their occupation and hegemony,\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" he said. His eminence indicated that the Resistance is not on the margin and there is always attempts to eliminate and crush it, whether militarily, politically, morally or culturally, expressing beliefs that such decisions have no more than psychological effects. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"The most important for the Lebanese Resistance is to get the support of its people and to express their will, pride and view in defending their land and their sovereignty.\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" Sayyed Nasrallah stressed that \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"Resistance has gained credibility among people in Lebanon and the Arab and Islamic world and in many places of the world due to its sacrifices and steadfastness because it did not back down, retreat or get defeated and also due to its achievements and field victories.\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"Resistance has changed the game rules and dropped projects and liberated captives, dignity and sovereignty of Lebanon. It also imposed a leading position for Lebanon in the region and will remain a solid fork in the eye of the Zionists and those who want Lebanon to get worse,\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" his eminence added. Touching on the EU member-states\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\' decision that blacklisted what they dubbed \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'the military wing\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\' of Hezbollah, Sayyed Nasrallah said that the decision has been announced in the media without issuing a formal statement to unfold its motives, evidence and logic. His eminence noted that the EU official statement will be issued within days, and the party will see then whether it will hold any argument or logic to be discussed, pointing out that the historical course of the European states confirms that their stance is not subjected to any values. Thanking all presidents, leaders, personalities and institutions that rejected the EU decision and condemned it, his eminence stated that the party wasn\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'t surprised by the decision but the leadership has expected it since the previous period. Iftar 2013Hezbollah Secretary General went on to say that the Zionists have expressed that the decision was the result of diplomatic efforts they exerted, recommending some of those who rejoiced in Lebanon to hide their joy a little bit so they wouldn\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'t express the same state of happiness as the Israelis. Sayyed Nasrallah reiterated that the EU countries have insulted themselves and their principles, interests and sovereignty when they submitted to the Israelis and Americans, stating that \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"EU countries should know they are giving legal cover for Israel to launch any war on Lebanon because Israel can claim it is waging war on the terrorists.\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"These countries make themselves a full partner in the Israeli aggression on Lebanon, on the Resistance and on any target for the resistance in Lebanon.\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" The Lebanese Resistance leader asked why the military wing of Israeli army wouldn\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'t be put on the list of terror? While the EU \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"repeatedly admits that Israel occupies Arab land and does not implement international resolutions since tens of years, and the whole world witnessed the Israeli massacres.\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" He also voiced that the EU stance is subjected to the interests and pressures, not to the values and principles, where its effects are nothing more than psychological. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"In this country, resistance fighters fought the Israeli occupation and have endured a lot of pressure and sacrificed martyrs. Then you come to those who are the sons of this people and say they are terrorists. This is a very bad abuse for the fighters, for their people, and for their successive governments that were supporting the Resistance by their ministerial statements,\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" he said. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"This is bad for Lebanon and the Lebanese government and people and not only for Resistance fighters,\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" he added, stressing that \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"this will not undermine our morale.\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" Addressing the European states, Sayyed Nasrallah said: \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"We are nationalists even in holidays. You can retake the visas you were granting for us. We do not have money in Europe. We do not have commercial or trade projects in Lebanon or abroad. therefore, this decision has no effects in this regard.\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"Yesterday, European delegates in Lebanon tried to say that the decision will not affect relations with Lebanon,\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" recalling that some in the March 14 bloc are working to frustrate the people and descend walls on their hopes. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"This decision aims at making us bow, to force us to step back and to be afraid. But I tell you that all you will get is failure and frustration,\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" his eminence told the European Union. Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan NasrallahIn the same context, Hezbollah Secretary General said that those who think that the resistance, which confronted in such days the strongest army in the region over 33 days, will be undermined by a silly decision is either will be subjugated by this decision are either delusional or ignorant. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"This decision will not be able to achieve any of its goals and we invite them (EU states) to correct this mistake because it will not lead to result,\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" he stressed. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"Dip it (the decision) in water and drink it,\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" he added to the EU. Touching on the local situation, Sayyed Nasrallah said that the other camp in Lebanon will not be able to exploit the decision in their domestic political calculations, or to isolate the party and form a cabinet without it. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"A government without Hezbollah will not be formed, not because we are eager for it but for other things.\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" His eminence jokingly suggested that Hezbollah\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s ministers in the next government will be of the military wing of the party. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"So do not bet on exploiting the decision internally,\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" he told the Lebanese political rivals. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"We call for the formation of a political government that preserve Lebanon and play in the heart of the storms moving around us.\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"Resistance will remain and will be victorious by God\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s Will,\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah concluded.

Saudi Arabia says it plans to make a major shift in its dealings with the United States. The Saudi intelligence chief says Riyadh\'s ties with Washington have been deteriorating for a while over several issues. A source close to Bandar bin Sultan says Riyadh\'s new stance is in protest at Washington\'s inaction over the war in Syria and the issue of Palestine. He\'s also voiced concern about the U-S growing closer to Iran. Bandar bin Sultan also criticized Washington for failing to back his country when it deployed forces to crush the popular uprising in Bahrain. The source close to the Saudi prince has hinted that the planned change in policy would have wide-ranging consequences, including for arms purchases and oil sales.

Saudi Arabia says it plans to make a major shift in its dealings with the US to protest Washington\\\'s inaction over the war in Syria. The Saudi intelligence chief has also voiced Riyadh\\\'s concerns over Washington\\\'s overtures to Iran. Bandar Bin Sultan has criticized Washington for failing to back his country when it deployed forces to crush anti-regime protests in Bahrain. How divided are Washington and Riyadh over Syria, Bahrain and Iran? Can Saudi Arabia successfully pursue its foreign policies without US support?

Israel has approved 3,500 new settler homes in the occupied East Jerusalem Al-Quds and the West Bank, a move that the EU said it \\\"deplored\\\", recalling that settlements were illegal under international law. The UN has voiced the same, and the PA has said Israel intends to wreck the so called peace talks. In this debate, we will discuss why this repeated scenario, along with Israel\\\'s illegal actions exercised on Palestinians on occupied lands continues, with impunity.

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.’”

A group of Afghan lawmakers oppose a possible security pact with the United States. They say the deal is against the interests of Afghan people and will cause more bloodshed. Washington is pressing Kabul to sign a security pact that allows US troops to stay in Afghanistan beyond 20-14. But the two sides are still at loggerheads over several issues. Meanwhile, Afghan protesters have rallied in the eastern Kunar province to show their anger at US night-time raids and drone strikes. Protesters say the attacks only target civilians. A foreign ministry spokesman has also voiced Kabul\'s opposition to the strikes.

A group of Afghan lawmakers oppose a possible security pact with the United States. They say the deal is against the interests of Afghan people and will cause more bloodshed. Washington is pressing Kabul to sign a security pact that allows US troops to stay in Afghanistan beyond 2014. But the two sides are still at loggerheads over several issues. Meanwhile, Afghan protesters have rallied in the eastern Kunar province to show their anger at US night-time raids and drone strikes. Protesters say the attacks only target civilians. A foreign ministry spokesman has also voiced Kabul\\\'s opposition to the strikes.

Russian once again calls for Iran\\\'s participation in the upcoming Geneva two conference on Syria. In a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Russian President Vladimir Putin voiced support for Tehran\\\'s participation. Putin says Iran is an important country that can play an irreplaceable role. Putin also says the recent Geneva deal between Iran and the P5+1 on Tehran\\\'s nuclear energy program was achieved largely because of the stance of Iranian authorities. The Iranian foreign minister for his part said Russia has made diplomatic progress in settling the Syrian problem. Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also said Iran\\\'s role is essential in ending the conflict in Syria.

The United States criticizes the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization for postponing an exhibition about Israel. US ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power says UNESCO\'S decision is wrong and has urged the organization to reconsider it. The UN\'s cultural arm put off the event after complaints from 22 Arab member states. The Arab countries voiced concern that the planned display could impact negatively on the talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany will start implementing the Geneva nuclear deal on January 20. Tehran says inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency are set to visit several nuclear sites. The spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran says the suspension of 20-percent uranium enrichment and the diluting of the current stockpile are Tehran\'s most important commitments under the agreement. Behruz Kamal-vandi says Iran will use centrifuges producing 20 percent enriched uranium to instead produce uranium purified to 5 percent to comply with the deal. Meanwhile, Iran\'s foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has expressed hopes that implementing the deal will leave positive marks on regional and global peace and stability. He\'s voiced hope the implementation would pave the way to a final and conclusive settlement.

Members of the group of former global leaders, known as the Elders, have met with Iran\'s foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. During the meeting, Zarif detailed Iran\'s regional policies and said Tehran is ready to take part in promoting peace and stability in the region. The two sides expressed concerns over the current turmoil in the region and emphasized Iran\'s pivotal role in resolving tensions. The Elders also voiced their concerns over the spread of extremism and sectarian violence in the region and urged collective cooperation to counter them. Finding a diplomatic solution to the war in Syria was also another major topic discussed during the meeting. The delegation, headed by Kofi Annan is on a three-day visit to Tehran to meet senior Iranian leaders.

Iran\'s foreign minister says talks on reaching a comprehensive deal on Tehran\'s nuclear energy program should result in the total removal of all anti-Iran sanctions. Mohammad Javad Zarif made the remarks during a press conference with visiting Swedish Foreign minister Carl Bildt in Tehran. Zarif says Tehran believes that U-S-led sanctions have been both illegal and counter-productive and did nothing to help solve the problem. Iran\'s top diplomat noted that the sanctions, which made it difficult for the Iranian companies to purchase even food and medical items, have intensified pessimism among the Iranian people. Bildt also voiced Sweden\'s support for finding a final and comprehensive solution to Iran\'s nuclear energy program. He says the issue can be solved within a six-month period it both sides act in good will.

Iran\'s foreign minister says talks on reaching a comprehensive deal on Tehran\'s nuclear energy program should result in the total removal of all anti-Iran sanctions. Mohammad Javad Zarif made the remarks during a press conference with visiting Swedish Foreign minister Carl Bildt in Tehran. Zarif says Tehran believes that U-S-led sanctions have been both illegal and counter-productive and did nothing to help solve the problem. Iran\'s top diplomat noted that the sanctions, which made it difficult for the Iranian companies to purchase even food and medical items, have intensified pessimism among the Iranian people. Bildt also voiced Sweden\'s support for finding a final and comprehensive solution to Iran\'s nuclear energy program. He says the issue can be solved within a six-month period it both sides act in good will.

The Afghan government is about to release dozens of inmates from Parwan detention center north of the capital Kabul. Officials say 65 inmates will be set free within the next 24 hours. The government says it does not have enough proof to keep the inmates behind bars. But the United States has already voiced concern over the release of the prisoners. U-S military officials say some of the prisoners are dangerous criminals who have links to al-Qaeda militants. Washington also says their release could pose a security threat to the future of Afghanistan. The U-S handed over control of Parwan prison to Afghan forces back in March 20-13.

[17 Mar 2014] The Debate - Crimea Vote Fallout (P.1) - English

[09 April 2015] Pakistani lawmakers oppose involvement in Saudi-led war on Yemen - English