WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 09:00 GMT to 17:00 GMT, October 26, 2017.

Warning against US deceptions

The leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution has warned the visiting Iraqi prime minister against US deceptions, advising him never to trust Washington. Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said the US created Daesh in the first place but now that the terror group is being defeated Washington pretends to approve of its demise. The Leader, however, warned that no doubt the US would inflict another blow to Iraq if it finds an opportunity. Ayatollah Khamenei also described unity as the key notion behind the victories of the Iraqi army in different battlefields. For his part, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi hailed Tehran’s support for Baghdad in the fight against terrorism and called for the expansion of bilateral ties. He referred to Kurdistan’s secession vote and vowed to protect the territorial integrity of Iraq. The Iraqi PM later met with President Hassan Rouhani.

Kenya election clashes

Clashes erupt in Kenya as people vote in a presidential re-run marred by an opposition boycott. Police used live rounds and tear gas to disperse protesters in the city of Kisumu, which is a stronghold for opposition leader Raila Odinga. A similar demonstration was held in one of the divisions of the capital Nairobi. Voting began in the early hours of Thursday. Fewer voters have shown up compared with the August vote whose results were annulled by the Supreme Court over irregularities. The opposition boycotted the repeat vote, arguing the electoral commission did not make needed reforms. Incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to clinch an easy win as his rival Odinga is stays away from the contest.

US-North Korea tensions

The United States says the option of military action against North Korea remains on the table, but notes that Washington is seeking to step up diplomatic pressure for now. Mattis was speaking ahead of a visit to the divided Korean Peninsula amid heightened tensions. He earlier held talks with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts on the sidelines of a security forum in the Philippines. They said North Korea’s weapons program posed an unprecedented threat, vowing to ram up diplomatic pressure against Pyongyang. The US secretary of defense will visit South Korea’s capital Seoul on Friday, ahead of President Donald Trump’s visit to the country next month.

Israel threat

Israel resorts to the threat of military action against Tehran if the United States can't make changes to the Iran nuclear deal. Israel Katz made the remarks in Tokyo, where he tries to garner Japan’s support for US President Donald Trump’s tough stance against Iran. The Israeli intelligence minister insisted that there must be additional amendments to the nuclear agreement to ensure that Iran will never reach the ability of having nuclear arms. Katz said Tel Aviv wants Washington to impose stricter conditions on Tehran and remove the so-called sun-set clause which will lift limitations on Iran’s nuclear program in 2025. The Israeli official added that while meeting with Japan's Prime Minister he’s raised the question of Japanese companies working with the Islamic Republic.

Syrian oil station liberated

The Syrian army and its allies have made more gains against terrorists, capturing a major Daesh position in the east. Government forces seized an oil pumping station in Dayr al-Zawr province, paving the way for an advance toward the Takfiri’s last remaining stronghold in Syria. The pumping station code-named "T2” is "considered a launch-pad for the army and its allies to press ahead with their operation to retake the town of Abu Kamal. The area is considered the last Daesh redoubt in the war-torn country. Daesh is being driven out of Syria and neighboring Iraq, losing territories it has captured since 2014.

Iran backing Baghdad

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has reaffirmed the Islamic Republic’s support for Iraq in its battle against terrorism. Rouhani was speaking in a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in Tehran. He said Iran will stand by the Iraqi government and its people to promote unity and solidarity in the Arab nation and help preserve its territorial integrity. The Iranian president also touched upon the recent secession vote in the Kurdistan region, saying Tehran is willing to strengthen Iraq’s central government. The Iraqi prime minister also called for regional nations to expand their relations to confront terrorism. He said tensions in the Middle East pave the way for foreign powers to interfere in regional affairs. Abadi also held talks with Iranian Parliament speaker Ali Larijani.

Catalan crisis

The Catalan leader has refused to call snap elections, citing what he has described as lack of guarantees. Carles Puigdemont said he had considered the possibility of calling snap elections but ruled it out. This, as reports suggest Catalonia’s separatist party will leave the regional government if snap elections are called. Meanwhile, thousands of people have taken to the streets in Barcelona to reaffirm their support for Catalania’s independence.

‘Unprecedented’ crisis in Myanmar

The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross says he was overwhelmed by the scale of the Rohingya crisis as he visited a refugee camp in Bangladesh. The official described the humanitarian crisis affecting Rohingya Muslims as unprecedented and criticized the international community’s response. He called for world leaders to take the situation seriously. The number of refugees in the camps has swelled dramatically to more than 800,000 in recent weeks. This, after a massive crackdown by Myanmar’s government forces sent around 600,000 people fleeing across the border.

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