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 13, 2017.

Iran Deal Assurance

The EU Foreign Policy Chief has voiced confidence that the US will not walk out of the nuclear deal between Iran and the P5+1 countries, despite questions being raised by the US president. Federica Mogherini made the comment on the sidelines of a peace mediation conference in the Norwegian capital Oslo. Mogherini added that she believes a review of the deal being carried out in Washington leads to wise decisions. She said it would be wise to keep the nuclear deal as it is working. Mogherini further stressed that, regardless of the course the US would take, the European Union will ensure the nuclear deal remains in place. She also said that the bloc wants continued engagement with Iran. The US announced a comprehensive review of the nuclear deal on April 19. In response, Iran warned of consequences, saying the deal is not re-negotiable.

Low-Level and Shocking

US defense secretary Jim Mattis says he was shocked by the state of military readiness to fight due to years of budget caps. Mattis slammed congress for confronting budget challenges saying it has sidelined itself from its active constitutional oversight role by blocking new programs and preventing service growth that placed troops at greater risk. Mattis urged the lawmakers to approve US president’s proposed army budget for the 2018 fiscal year, which is 639 billion dollars. Meanwhile Republicans are seeking thirty billion more to be added to the budget. But Democrats are worried about where the extra funding will come from, given the Trump administration’s pressure to cut taxes.

Crisis Continues

An anti-government rally in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, has turned into a fire incident as protesters set ablaze a building. The fire started when the demonstrators attacked a court branch with Molotov cocktail bombs, damaging a bank and a kindergarten in the same building as well. The incident came after a court ruling that rejected a challenge by country’s chief prosecutor to a government plan to elect a constituent assembly. President Nicolas Maduro wants to rewrite the Constitution and argues that a constituent assembly is necessary to address inflation and product shortages. The opposition says the move aims to alter the rules in favor of the government to keep Maduro in power.

Last Thing to Need

A camp for displaced people near Iraq’s northern city of Mosul has been hit by a large-scale food poisoning, leaving a woman and a child dead. Some 850 people were affected after a non-governmental organization donated food to the Khazir U2 Camp for Iftar, a fast-breaking meal for Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan. At least 300 people are said to be in critical condition. A formal investigation into the incident is underway. The camp houses more than 6200 individuals who have been displaced after Iraqi forces started the offensive to liberate Mosul from Daesh terrorists.

Caught up in Crossfire

Human Rights Watch has called on the US-backed forces operating in Syria to protect civilians during their battle for the Daesh-held city of Raqqah. The watchdog says the US and its local partner forces on the ground must respect the rights of everyone caught up in the battle. HRW has also urged the US to respect detainees’ rights, provide safe passage for the displaced, and intensify efforts to clear land mines. Earlier on Tuesday, the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces said it reached the walls of the old city in Eastern Raqqah. The US is providing ground and air support to the group which began its anti-Daesh operation last Tuesday. Raqqah is the terrorist group’s de facto capital in Syria.

Saudi Support for Terrorism

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has accused Saudi Arabia of supporting anti-Iran terrorists. Zarif says Saudi officials have openly stated that they will take the war in the region to Iran. He stressed this amounts to a direct threat. The top diplomat says Tehran has intelligence that Riyadh is actively engaged in supporting terrorist groups in the eastern Baluchestan province. He noted that the same type of activity is going on in the western side of Iran as well. Zarif reminded the fact that Iran has always sought regional stability and is the safest country in the Middle East. The foreign minister was speaking on the sidelines of a conference on peace mediation in Oslo. He also referred to the 2015 nuclear deal with the P5+1 and United States’ behavior toward the agreement.

Tillerson Testimony

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will be testifying before lawmakers on Budget cuts and links between the administration and Russia. Members of the Senate and House of Representatives will be asking questions regarding Trump's unpopular budget during the four hearings to be held this week. They will also question Tillerson on conflicting messages about foreign affairs and links between the administration and Russia. On Tuesday, the secretary of state will be testifying before Foreign Relations and a Senate Appropriations subcommittee. The Wednesday testimony will be held before the House Foreign Affairs and appropriations panels.

Syria Army Gains

The Syrian army has made further advances against the Daesh Terrorist group in the desert area west of Raqqah. According to media reports, Syrian troops have pushed southwards a strategic highway. The area was used by the Takfiris to attack positions along the government's main supply route to Aleppo near Ithriya. Several villages were also liberated from the terrorist group. Syrian troops and their allied fighters have stepped up efforts to recapture Raqqah amid fierce fighting. The city emerged as the Takfiri group’s main hub for staging attacks when it fell to Daesh in 2014.

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

www.presstv.co.uk