WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT, April 24, 2017 to 08:00 GMT, April 25, 2017.

US, France on Iran nuclear deal

US President Donald Trump has urged Iran not to restart its nuclear program, as his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, says more issues can be added to the nuclear agreement. This, shortly after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani warned Washington against violating the 2015 nuclear deal. Rouhani had said any failure to respect the multinational agreement would entail grave consequences.

Iran offers dialog with Persian Gulf countries

The Iranian foreign minister has urged the countries of the Persian Gulf region to hold talks on regional security. Addressing a United Nations meeting on sustaining peace, Mohammad Javad Zarif called for the creation of a “Regional Dialogue Forum”. He said it was time to move away from “hegemonic illusions” that have led to destructive wars in the Middle East. Zarif added that Persian Gulf countries must combine forces to sustain peace instead of seeking to be the strongest in the region. The Iranian top diplomat also proposed establishing new security networks in the region to replace what he described as national security blocs.

DACA dispute

Another US federal judge has come out against President Donald Trump’s decision to kill a popular immigration program, saying it’s unlawful and must be set aside. US District Court Judge John Bates says the Trump administration’s justification to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals has inadequate legal reasoning. Bates is the third judge to rule against the administration’s move. He has given the Department of Homeland Security 90 days to challenge his ruling. He says if the department fails to come up with a better explanation, then it has to resume DACA and accept new applications. DACA has allowed immigrants brought to the US illegally as children to stay and work. But the government announced last year it would stop the program, because it is unconstitutional. The announcement sparked nationwide rallies.

Iran warns Washington  

Iran says if the United States withdraws from the nuclear deal reached between Tehran and the P5+1 group of countries, the Islamic Republic is likely to reciprocate. Iran's foreign minister made the remarks in an interview with the Associated Press. Zarif warned that any move by the White House to re-impose sanctions lifted under the JCPOA would basically kill the deal. Mohammad Javad Zarif criticized the US for failing to live up to its obligations under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. He warned that the US scrapping of the 2015 deal would make Iran free to resume enrichment beyond the limits agreed in the JCPOA. He criticized the Trump administration for withdrawing from international agreements, such as the Paris climate accord, and showing the world that the US is not a reliable negotiating partner.

Armenia political unrest

Armenia’s opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan has urged his supporters to take to the streets over what he called the ruling party’s attempts to keep power. Pashinyan has accused the Republican Party of seeking to take advantage of Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan’s resignation. He has also accused the ruling party of corruption and said he would not agree on its appointment as prime minister. The Armenian opposition leader made the comments after his planned talks with the Republican Party were canceled. The country has to choose a new premier after Sargsyan stepped down in response to popular calls. He was elected as prime minister a week ago following two consecutive five-year terms as president. Protesters accused him of clinging to power.

Rouhani lashes out at US over violating JCPOA

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has lashed out at the United States over its violation of the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA. Rouhani said the US has failed to live up to its commitments under the landmark agreement, therefore does not have the right to talk about its future. He said Washington first has to “pay off its account” regarding the accord. The Iranian president mocked his American counterpart, Donald Trump, for calling the deal flawed. He said the US should have NOT signed the accord, if it was terribly bad. Rouhani noted that Iran showed its goodwill and proved that Washington’s claims about Tehran’s nuclear program were sheer lies by striking the JCPOA.

Int’l relief organizations condemn Saudi airstrikes in Yemen

Over a dozen International relief organizations operating in Yemen have slammed Saudi Arabia’s deadly air raids against civilians. In a joint statement, 13 humanitarian groups said they are aggrieved and outraged by a recent bombing of a wedding party that killed more than 30 people. They also condemned other Saudi airstrikes this month that killed scores of civilians. The statement urged a political solution in the war-ravaged country. Meanwhile, Doctors Without Borders has denounced the attack on a wedding party, saying it was a serious violation of international humanitarian law. The medical group says it treated 13 children among scores of civilians wounded in the attack.

Israel says will destroy Russian missiles in Syria

Israel has warned to retaliate against the potential use of Russian S-300 missile system by Syria. The Israeli minister of military affairs threatened to destroy any entity that targets the regime’s warplanes. Avigdor Lieberman emphasized that Israel will take military action to prevent advanced weaponry from reaching Lebanon’s Hezbollah resistance movement through Syria. Lieberman insisted on good ties with Russia despite Moscow’s finger-pointing at Tel Aviv for a recent raid on T-4 airbase in Syria’s Homs, which killed four Iranian military advisors. Russia has said that the recent US-led strikes on Syria removed any moral obligation Moscow had to withhold the S-300 anti-aircraft missile system from the Arab nation.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk