WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT, January 5, 2017 to 08:00 GMT, January 6, 2017.

Iran’s ‘hard evidence’

Iran's envoy to the United Nations has sharply criticized a Security Council meeting called by the US on recent violent protests in parts of Iran. Gholamali Khoshroo also called the meeting a discredit for the UN Security Council. He said the 15-member body's decision to convene over a purely internal matter comes as there are genuine issues to be discussed in the council such as the occupation of Palestine and the war on Yemen. Khoshroo noted that the US has a long history of bullying at the UN. He stressed that the Iranian government responded peacefully and with utmost respect for the people and their right to protest. The diplomat added that Iran has hard evidence that the violence which resulted in some deaths was being directed from abroad. Earlier at the meeting, the US ambassador to the UN denounced Iran’s response to recent unrest in the country, accusing the Islamic republic of violating its citizens’ basic rights.

US ‘abuse’ of UNSC

Vassily Nebenzia also said the council members should have called a meeting when there were widespread protests in the US. Also at the meeting, the Chinese ambassador said discussing Iran’s domestic situation is not in line with the Security Council’s responsibilities as outlined in the UN charter. In an apparent criticism of the US for calling the meeting, the French envoy, said that the recent protests in Iran do not threaten international peace and security.

‘Another US blunder’

Iran’s foreign minister has derided the US call for an extraordinary UN Security Council meeting over protests in Iran. In a tweet, Mohammad Javad Zarif denounced the move as a naked attempt to hijack the council’s mandate, and another foreign policy blunder for the Trump administration. He noted that the majority of the 15-member council stressed the need for the full implementation of Iran’s nuclear deal and refraining from interfering in the country’s internal affairs. In an earlier tweet, Zarif described Saudi Arabia as eternal bedfellow of the Daesh terrorist group as they both follow Trump's lead in endorsing violence, death and destruction in Iran.

Tillerson on JCPOA

The US secretary of state has said the administration of Donald Trump is working with key lawmakers on a legislative fix which clears the path for Washington to stay in the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers. Rex Tillerson added that the changes to the US law could come as early as next week or shortly thereafter. Tillerson said the administration was speaking with congressional leaders on a very active basis about a fix. He suggested that the US president might be inclined to preserve the deal by waiving sanctions again on January 12. In October, Trump declined to certify Iran's compliance with the 2015 nuclear agreement, saying the deal wasn't in America's national interests.

Saudi war reward

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has ordered payment of over 1300 dollar rewards to military personnel serving in the front line of the war on Yemen. The royal decree was published by state news media. Saudi Arabia started its deadly aerial campaign against Yemen in March 2015. At least 13,700 Yemenis, including many women and children, have lost their lives since then. Much of Yemen’s infrastructure, including hospitals, schools and factories, has been reduced to rubble due to the war.

Trump mental health

The revelations in a deeply critical book about US President Donald Trump’s first year in office have renewed scrutiny of the business mogul’s mental health. The book entitled - Fire and Fury- sheds light on concerns among top White House aides over the US president’s psychological fitness for America’s highest office. An assistant clinical professor at the Yale School of Medicine has raised the alarm about Trump’s war-mongering approaches and his verbal aggressiveness. Bandy Lee, who briefed Congress last month on the potential risks associated with the president’s behavior, described such attitudes as signs of an imminent danger. However, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has defended his boss, saying he has never questioned Trump’s mental health. In an interview with CNN, Tillerson added that the US is in a stronger place internationally thanks to Trump's policies.

Inter-Korean talks

Russia and China welcome efforts by North and South Korea to resume dialogue. Russia’s foreign ministry has hailed the move as a positive step. Moscow says talks between Seoul and Pyongyang will be underpinned by concrete bilateral agreements. It added that these measures are aimed at ending the crisis on the Korean Peninsula. Meanwhile, China says it supports efforts by North and South Korea to resolve their differences. Beijing has also called on the international community to help resolve the issue.

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