WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 0900 GMT to 1700 GMT, February 20, 2019.

Poland conference ‘failure’

The Iranian president has expressed Tehran's readiness for cooperation with the world, but with no pressure. Hassan Rouhani says Iran is ready to work with other countries, including those in the European Union, as long as they do not have excessive demands. He has warned that Iran will not give in to what he called bullying. Rouhani has urged the EU to drop demands that run against Iran’s national interests. He says the Iranian nation will not make any such concessions. Rouhani has also described as a failure an anti-Iran conference held by the US in Poland last week.

China-US talks

China’s State Councilor says the United States should respect his country’s right to develop and become prosperous. Wang Yi says Washington should recognize that China’s development is in the world’s interest, as well as the United States’. The world's two largest economies began their latest round of trade talks this week to resolve their dispute. US President, Donald Trump, said the negotiations are going well. The two countries have so far imposed several rounds of tariffs on each other’s imports. The United States has accused China of unfair trade practices, a charge Beijing denies.

Reaction to US threat

Venezuela’s military says its forces will remain deployed at the country’s frontiers to stop any violations of territorial integrity. Defense Minister, Vladimir Padrino, says the troops will be on alert along the borders. He has also confirmed that Venezuela has ordered the closure of its air and sea borders with three neighboring Caribbean Islands, namely Curacao, Aruba, and Bonaire. Curacao is planning to host American aid shipments that the Venezuelan government has described as a smokescreen for a US invasion. On Monday, US President Donald Trump warned the Venezuelan military not to side with President Nicolas Maduro. Trump said those military personnel who are supporting Maduro are risking their lives.

Putin: We’ll target US

The Russian president has warned that Moscow will retaliate against the US deployment of intermediate-range nuclear weapons in Europe. Putin said the US has openly ignored the spirit of the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty. He added, Washington violated the INF by developing launch installations in Eastern Europe instead of scrapping the missiles according to the treaty. The Russian president, however, underlined that Moscow does not seek confrontation with others despite Russia’s plans to develop new weapons. Putin denied the US accusations against Russia as groundless and insisted on the defensive nature of Moscow’s measures.

US-Saudi nuclear sale

Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, calls the United States' sale of nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia an illicit move. Zarif says the move exposes US hypocrisy which was already shown in Washington’s support for Riyadh over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The top Iranian diplomat made the comments on his tweeter page, after a report by the US House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Reform. The report said whistleblowers had spoken of efforts inside the White House to rush the transfer of highly-sensitive nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia. The report said the efforts are without review by Congress, and appear to be ongoing. The committee has launched an inquiry into the issue. The White House has not commented yet.

Israel al-Aqsa assault

Jordanian parliament members have called for the expulsion of Israel’s ambassador from the country over Tel Aviv’s recent measures in Jerusalem al-Quds. Jordan’s Palestine Parliamentary Committee also urged the government to recall the Jordanian ambassador to Tel Aviv. This came after Israel on Monday banned Muslims from entering the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem al-Quds. Tel Aviv also arrested several worshipers inside the compound. Jordanian lawmakers denounced Israel’s act as a violation of human rights and international law. In 2017, Israel also restricted Muslims’ entry to Al-Aqsa Mosque. This led to mass demonstrations.

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