WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 09:00 GMT to 17:00 GMT, December 19, 2017.

‘US can’t collapse JCPOA’

The Iranian president has reiterated that the nuclear agreement, reached between Tehran and the P5+1 group of countries, will remain in place. Hassan Rouhani made the comment during a national conference on civil rights held in the capital Tehran. Rouhani stressed that the US has so far been unable to scrap the deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The Iranian president noted that Washington cannot cause the 2015 accord to collapse. The remarks came as US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to pull out of the JCPOA. The EU, France, Britain, China, and Russia, all of whom signatories to the deal, have sharply criticized Trump’s threat. They stress that they will remain committed to the full implementation of the nuclear agreement.

1,000 days of Yemen war

Thousands of Yemenis have taken to the streets of Sa’ada to mark one-thousand days since the beginning of the Saudi war on their country. The demonstrators chanted slogans in condemnation of the ongoing Saudi aggression against Yemen. They urged the Arab states to stop supporting Riyadh. Saudi Arabia and its allies have launched a deadly war against Yemen in March 2015. More than 13,000 Yemenis, mostly civilians, have been killed ever since. Riyadh also imposed a blockade on Yemen, which aggravated the humanitarian situation in the country. Rights groups warned that the impoverished country is on the brink of its worst famine in decades.

West Bank clashes

A Palestinian man has been injured by Israeli forces following heavy clashes near Nablus. The protests were held in the town of Beit Furik. A girl has been arrested as well during the scuffles. Similar rallies were also held in north of Gaza where Israeli forces opened fire on the protesters. The demonstrations are part of widespread rallies held in protest at US President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s capital. Demonstrations have already been held in al-Quds, Bethlehem, Ramallah, Nablus, and al-Khalil also known as Hebron. The demonstrations were marked by clashes with Israeli forces across the occupied territories. At least ten Palestinians have been killed and more than 3400 injured since December six, when Trump made his controversial announcement on the status of al-Quds.

Yemen retaliates

Yemen’s Ansarullah movement says it has fired another ballistic missile at the Saudi capital Riyadh. Media close to Ansarullah reported the Borkan H-2 missile has targeted the Yamamah Royal palace where a number of high-ranking Saudi officials had gathered. King Salman usually receives his guests and top officials there. Saudi Arabia says the missile that was intercepted over Riyadh has left no casualties. It also claims the missile was an Iranian-Houthi rocket. This is the second missile targeting the Arab kingdom in as many weeks. On November 4, a ballistic missile was fired at King Khaled military Airbase in the north of Riyadh. A Yemeni army official has warned that Saudi royals will no more be safe in their palaces following the recent airstrikes in Sana’a.

Against new US strategy

China has criticized Donald Trump’s first National Security Strategy, urging Washington to stop the Cold War mentality. China however stressed that cooperation between Washington and Beijing will lead to a win-win outcome. Russia has also rejected Trump’s claim that Moscow poses a threat to the US. The Kremlin says the strategy has an imperialist nature and shows a lack of willingness to give up on unilateralism. In his speech on Monday, Trump claimed that Russia and China seek to challenge America’s influence and values.

Saudi war on Yemen

The UN Human Rights body has raised the alarm over the increasing number of civilian casualties as a result of the Saudi aggression against Yemen. Colville says only in the early hours of December 15, twenty civilians including fourteen children were killed and another four children injured by a Saudi air raid on a farm house in al-Hudaydah governorate. More than 13,000 Yemenis, mostly civilians, have been killed since the Saudi kingdom started its aggression in March 2015. Riyadh has also imposed a blockade on Yemen which has aggravated the humanitarian situation in the country. International aid agencies say more than 22 million Yemenis are in dire need of humanitarian assistance. Seven million others are also facing famine-like conditions.

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