WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 09:00 GMT to 17:00 GMT, June 8, 2017.

Repugnant Reaction

Iran’s foreign minister has dismissed the US President and the Senate's reactions to Tehran’s deadly terrorist attacks as repugnant. In a post on his twitter account, Mohammad Javad Zarif said Iranians counter terror which is supported by the US clients. He also said the Iranians would reject such US claims of friendship. Earlier, Donald Trump accused Iran of sponsoring terrorism claiming that Tehran attacks were the fruits of Iran’s policies. Meanwhile, the US Senate voted to advance a bill that would authorize the president to impose new sanctions on Iran. This paved the way for a vote to pass the legislation. Several senators had sought a delay in the vote until next week after Wednesday’s terror attacks in Tehran.

UK Elections 2017

Voting is underway in UK’s snap general elections that would choose the line-up of the next parliament with 650 lawmakers. Over 40 thousand stations have been set up across the country. Several opinion polls show that the race might be a lot tighter than what was predicted when Prime Minister Theresa May announced the vote six weeks ago. The opposition Labour Party has gained more popularity against the ruling conservatives in the past few weeks. May called for a snap election in an attempt to increase her majority before Britain enters two years of Brexit negotiations.

Comey Set to Testify

Former FBI director, James Comey is set to face a congressional hearing where he is expected to testify about his interactions with President Donald Trump, before and after his inauguration. Comey will appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee for the first time since he was fired in the midst of an ongoing investigation into Russia’s alleged meddling in the 2016 presidential election. On the eve of his appearance on Capitol Hill, Comey revealed that the US president had asked him to drop a probe into former national security advisor, Michael Flynn whom Trump had dismissed over Russia ties. In a written testimony, he quoted Trump as saying that the Russia investigation was a "cloud" impairing his ability to operate as president. Last month, Trump set a political firestorm after he sacked the FBI chief citing his performance.

Tehran Terrorist Attacks

Iran’s intelligence ministry has revealed the identities of five assailants involved in Tehran terrorist attacks on Wednesday. The ministry said the attackers were affiliated with Wahhabi and Takfiri terrorist groups and had taken part in Daesh crimes in the Iraqi city of Mosul and the Syrian city of Raqqah. The ministry added that the assailants entered Iran in August 2016 to carry out terrorist operations; but fled the country after their cell was dismantled and their leader was killed. 17 people were killed and dozens of others injured in the attacks on Iran’s parliament and the mausoleum of the late founder of the Islamic Republic Imam Khomeini on Wednesday. Iran's Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli says such acts of terror underline the necessity for a relentless fight against extremism and terrorism. Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, the IRGC, has vowed a crushing response after the attacks.

Syria Fighting Terrorists

The Syrian army says its fighter jets have bombed the positions of Daesh terrorists in the northeastern province of Raqqah. The targets were in the west of Raqqah city, on the southern bank of the Euphrates River. The Syrian army conducts the strikes as a coalition of Arab and Kurdish forces, known as the SDF, pushes into the edge of Raqqah city. The SDF began their assault on the last stronghold of Daesh in Syria on Tuesday. The US backed alliance is marching on the city from northern and eastern fronts. Once they reach Raqqah, the joint forces are expected to engage in street battles inside the city which fell to Daesh in 2014.

Daesh Atrocities

The United Nations human rights office has reports of a significant escalation of Iraqi civilians being killed by Daesh as they try to flee Mosul. A statement said that more than 230 civilians attempting to flee western Mosul have been killed since 26 May. The Office also reported 50 to 80 deaths in an airstrike on the Zanjili district on May 31. The details of the incidents were not mentioned in the report. ISIL shoots civilians in order to prevent them from fleeing the city. A number of the city’s residents have also gone missing since it fell to terrorists in 2014. Iraqi troops have since waged an operation to recapture Mosul; however, the terror group's use of human shields has slowed down the campaign.

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