WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 1800 GMT, April 9, 2019 to 0800 GMT, April 10, 2019.

US ‘provocation move’

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani has condemned the US labeling of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps as a terrorist organization. In a telephone call with his French counterpart, Rouhani described the US move as provocative and unprecedented. He told Emmanuel Macron that at least two regional countries would have been under Daesh control IF the IRGC hadn’t made its efforts to repel the terrorist group. Rouhani also said that Tehran wants to see other signatories to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal to fulfill their commitments. He reminded Macron that the UN nuclear watchdog has verified Iran’s compliance with its commitments under the deal for 14 times so far. For his part, Macron said France wants Iran’s interests to be met under the deal.

US anti-Iran policy

Turkey has joined a chorus of condemnation against the US decision to designate Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps a terrorist organization. The Foreign Minister says the move will pave the way for instability in the region. Mevlut Cavusoglu, speaking alongside his Qatari counterpart, added that the measure was a step outside international law. Doha's top diplomat, Mohammed Al Thani, also denounced the US blacklisting of the Iranian military force. China said it is opposed to “power politics and bullying by any country”. Syria also condemned the designation as irresponsible. Iraq says it had tried to prevent the US from labeling the IRGC as a terrorist organization.

Palestinian prisoners' plight  

More Palestinian inmates have joined an ongoing hunger strike in Israeli jails to protest their conditions and new restrictions. According to a Palestinian rights group, 150 more prisoners have joined the protest, bringing the number to 400 since the hunger strike was launched on Monday. The advocacy group added, the protests have spread to multiple Israeli prisons and have the backing of all major Palestinian political factions. The prisoners are protesting against the recent installation of equipment in jails that jam their mobile phone reception. They are also angry about the ban on family visits for inmates from the besieged Gaza Strip. More than 5,000 Palestinian prisoners are behind Israeli bars under harsh conditions and poor hygiene standards.

Mueller report release

The US attorney general says a redacted version of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report on the alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election will be released within a week. William Barr said he does not intend to send the full report to Congress at this stage. Barr noted that he is relying on his own discretion to make parts of the report public. The top attorney made the remarks at his first appearance before Congress since receiving the report last month. The House Judiciary Committee had warned to issue subpoena if the Department of Justice refused to release the full report. The Committee insisted that the probe does not necessarily exonerate President Donald Trump. It also underlined that the Trump administration has a motive to hide the findings.

Libya fighting

The United Nations has postponed a reconciliation conference aimed at organizing elections in Libya as fighting rages on near the capital, Tripoli. UN envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame announced the decision, saying he hopes the conference that was originally scheduled for next week, would take place as soon as possible. The UN Security Council is to hold a closed-door meeting on Wednesday on the crisis in Libya. On Monday, Tripoli's only functioning airport was pounded in an airstrike by forces loyal to renegade General Khalifa Haftar. The incident prompted UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to call for an immediate halt to hostilities. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization warned about the humanitarian crisis in the conflict-ridden North African country.

UK Saudi arms sale

Three major rights groups have intervened in a court case that’s challenging the UK’s arms sales to Saudi Arabia. Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and Rights Watch UK have intervened in the case that’s being heard by the UK Court of Appeal for three days, starting on April 9th. The landmark case was first brought before the court back in 2017 by the UK-based Campaign against Arms Trade. But, it was dismissed by London’s High Court. The groups argue that the British government has broken its arms export licensing criteria by continuing to sell weapons to Saudi Arabia. That’s because of the clear risk that the weapons would result in serious violations of international humanitarian law in Yemen. Since the launch of the Saudi war on Yemen, London has licensed more than six billion dollars worth of arms to Riyadh.

No to US threats

The Turkish president says the delivery of Russia’s S-400 anti-missile system may begin from July. Recep Tayyip Erdogan added that US threats cannot force Turkey to cancel its deal with Russia. Earlier in April, Washington warned Ankara against the purchase of the Russian defense system. The US also stopped the delivery of equipment related to F-35 fighter jets to Turkey over Ankara's decision. Turkey, however, has refused to back down from making the purchase. The disagreement is the latest in a series of diplomatic rows between the two countries.

Netanyahu projected to win elections

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is projected to win a fifth term in office. Ninety-six percent of the vote has been counted so far. Results show that Netanyahu’s Likud party won 37 out of 120 seats in the Knesset. Centrist Blue and White party headed by Netanyahu's rival, Benny Gantz, has won 36 seats. Neither party has captured a ruling majority. Yet, Netanyahu is in a strong position to form a coalition with his allied right-wing parties. The process is expected to take weeks. Israelis went to the polls on Tuesday.

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