WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEALDINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 09:00 GMT to 17:00 GMT, March 5, 2017.

Criticizing Europe

The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council says enhancing the country’s defensive capabilities is an inevitable necessity which comes along with Tehran’s deterrence policy. During a meeting with the French foreign minister, Ali Shamkhani noted that Iran’s defensive capabilities have never been a threat to any country. He added that expanding such capabilities are in line with the country’s security requirements. The Iranian official also noted that the European parties to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal should speed up fulfilling their obligations under the agreement. Shamkhani described as wrong Europe’s policy of making concessions to the US in order to keep it in the accord, saying the move amounts to being manipulated by Washington’s mind game. Visiting French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has also met with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif and is expected to hold talks with President Hassan Rouahni later in the day.

Eastern Ghouta situation

A monitoring group says the Syrian army and its allies have captured a third of the militant-held Eastern Ghouta, located near the capital Damascus. According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, government forces are advancing at a high pace. The opposition source says the Syrian army is now only two kilometers away from Douma, the main town in the flashpoint region. Government troops have been trying to dislodge terrorist groups, including Nusra Front members, from the area. In the meantime, a 46-truck convoy carrying aid for residents of Eastern Ghouta has arrived at the enclave. This is the first aid delivery to the region in weeks.

Germany politics

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has hailed Social Democrats for backing their party for a coalition deal with the conservatives. Merkel called the grand coalition between the Social Democratic party and her Christian Democratic Union as a “very, very good foundation”. She said the new government should quickly start its work to tackle issues such as international trade policy. The Chancellor made the remarks a day after 66 percent of the SPD members voted for another tie-up with the conservatives. The move ended almost six months of political uncertainty in Germany and cleared the way for Merkel to remain in power for a fourth term. The German federal parliament is set to vote on Merkel’s candidacy on March 14.

Iran defense capabilities

Iran’s foreign minister says the country’s missile activities are outside the framework of the nuclear deal with the P5+1 countries as well as UN Security Council resolution 2231 that endorsed the agreement. Mohammad Javad Zarif made the comment in a meeting with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian in Tehran. Zarif also said Iran’s military capability is only for self-defense. He added that the US and its allies must end their weapons supplies that have turned the region into “a weapons depot” on the verge of explosion. Zarif also criticized European governments for giving in to the US over the nuclear deal. He said Europeans need to fulfill their commitments and push the US to do the same. Meanwhile, the French foreign minister said Paris and other European countries are committed to the deal. He said France wants continued friendly ties with Iran.

Unchecked militants

Russia trades accusations with the United States, blaming Washington for deliberately defying the recent UN Security Council resolution on Syria. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the United States has failed to stop the militants under its control from launching attacks on the Syrian army. Moscow also says the armed groups holed up in Eastern Ghouta continue shelling the Syrian capital Damascus every day. Russia has ruled out the US allegation that Russian forces are ignoring the UN-backed 30-day ceasefire in Syria. On Sunday, the US State department claimed that Russian jets bomb Eastern Ghouta in defiance of the UN resolution.

Trump trade wars

US President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on steel and aluminum imports continue drawing reactions from European countries. French President Emmanuel Macron has said the European Union must “react quickly” to Washington’s plans. Macron underlined that the US measures contradict the rules of the World Trade Organization. German government spokesman Steffen Seibert also said a hike in US import duties for European-made products will affect international trade flows, European industries and workers and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic. He stressed that Germany will consult with its European partners about the next steps. While Trump’s measures have been condemned by most European countries as well as the WTO and the International Monetary Fund, he has warned that tariffs on European cars might also increase.

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