WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 0900 GMT to 1700 GMT, February 18, 2019.

Confronting economic war

President Hassan Rouhani describes the US anti-Iran sanctions as an economic war, saying the Islamic Republic will emerge victorious. Rouhani criticized the United States for exerting pressure on Iran through its sanctions. He also rejected US claims that the sanctions do not target the Iranian nation, saying the measures are affecting people’s lives and health. Rouhani was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of a gas condensate refinery in the southern city of Bandar Abbas. He hailed Iran’s continuous progress in various sectors, despite all problems caused by sanctions. The Iranian president stressed that the nation will overcome all problems, if it remains united.

Trump ouster talks

The former acting director of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation confirms earlier reports of discussions on ousting US President Donald Trump in 2017. Andrew McCabe was interviewed on the “60 Minutes” show of American TV network CBS. He said the discussion was raised in a meeting where the US deputy attorney general was trying to invoke the 25th amendment of the constitution.

Venezuela denies EU lawmakers entry

The government of Venezuela has not allowed five members of the European Parliament to enter the country. The government says the delegation had “conspiratorial motives”. The five lawmakers were invited by Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaido, who has declared himself interim president. Guaido wrote on Twitter on Sunday that the move only contributes to the quicker ouster of President Nicolas Maduro. In a video distributed on social media, a Spanish member of the European delegation explained that he and his colleagues were travelling to the crisis-hit country to meet with Guaido, adding they had no idea why they had been denied entry.

Pakistan-India tensions

Pakistan has recalled its ambassador to New Delhi amid escalating tensions following a deadly militant attack on Indian forces in the disputed Kashmir region. A Pakistani foreign spokesman says the High Commissioner in India has been recalled for consultations. India also recalled its ambassador after Thursday’s bombing to discuss relations with Pakistan. Tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors are simmering since a Pakistan-based militant group killed 44 Indian paramilitary troopers in Kashmir’s Pulwama district. Pakistan condemned the attack, but denied any complicity. Meanwhile, seven people, including four Indian soldiers have been killed in a gunfight during a search operation in Pulwama. India says two suspected masterminds of last week’s blast were among those killed early on Monday. New Delhi has long accused Islamabad of providing a safe haven for anti-India groups. The Indian government has warned of consequences and imposed heavy tariffs on goods imported from Pakistan.

‘US hostility, Europe deceit’  

The Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution has warned Iranian officials not to be deceived by the country’s enemies. Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said officials must be able to distinguish enemies from friends. He said the United States has an obvious enmity toward Iran and the Europeans also try to deceive us. The Leader also warned Iranian officials not to put the country in trouble by getting deceived. Ayatollah Khamenei, however, pointed to the huge participation of Iranian people in rallies marking the 40th anniversary of the victory of the Islamic revolution and said the enemy can never harm such a great nation. The Leader made the remarks in a meeting with the people of East Azerbaijan Province.

EU US tariff warning

The EU has threatened retaliation against any new tariffs on European cars by the United States. A spokesman for the European Commission says the EU will respond in a swift and adequate manner. The bloc has issued the warning after the US Commerce Department filed a report that allows President Donald Trump to apply the import taxes. The report empowers Trump to do so within the next 90 days. Since last July, trade talks between the two sides have been ongoing. They have yet to produce any results. Officials say the next round of negotiations could be held within the next 30 days. Trump has repeatedly complained about US trade deficits. But he has been accused of adopting protectionist policies.

Pal tax money

The Palestinian government has warned Israel against withholding its tax money over its support for families of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. A spokesman for the Palestinian president called the Israeli decision to deduct funds as robbery and a unilateral violation of bilateral agreements. Nabil Abu Rudeina said the move will have dangerous consequences on all levels. Separately, the Palestinian Liberation Organization denounced Israel, saying it wants to steal Palestinian tax revenues. On Sunday, the Israeli cabinet announced cutting around five percent of tax handovers to the Palestinian government in the occupied territories. Israel collects taxes on behalf of Palestinians, who put the current sums at 222 million dollars a month. Israel has, time and again, withheld the money under different pretexts since 2014.

Israel summit canceled

A summit of central European leaders in Israel has been cancelled after Poland pulls out over a diplomatic row with Tel Aviv. Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis says the summit may be rescheduled for the second half of this year. The Polish premier said his country will not attend the gathering after Israel claimed many Poles had collaborated with the Nazis in World War Two. Mateusz Morawiecki slammed the remarks as unacceptable and racist. On Sunday, Poland also summoned the Israeli ambassador over the issue. The Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia had planned to attend the summit on Monday and Tuesday for talks with Israeli officials.