WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 0900 GMT to 1700 GMT, April 28, 2019.

Strait of Hormuz security

Iran’s top general says US vessels respond to questions of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps in the Strait of Hormuz, just as they did before. The commander of the Iranian armed forces’ general staff said no change has been spotted in Americans’ behavior in the strategic waterway, where the IRGC is in charge of security. Major General Mohammad Baqeri warned that Iran will counter anyone trying to undermine the security of the key oil shipping bottleneck. The top general stressed that Iran does not want to block the strait but is capable of doing so if enmities leave the country with no other alternative. He said Iran’s oil and goods must get through the waterway just as those of other countries.

Denouncing US statement

Iraq has condemned a statement by the US embassy in Baghdad about Iran’s economy as a violation of diplomatic norms and international law. In a statement, the Iraqi foreign ministry said the American embassy’s move runs against the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. The ministry urged the US diplomatic mission to remove what it called the offensive post about Iran from its official Facebook account. The post, published on Thursday, also triggered angry reactions from various Iraqi political factions. In the post, the US embassy accused top Iranian officials of economic corruption.

Confessions under duress

New revelations suggest that many of the 37 people executed on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia on terror-related charges were tortured to make confessions. CNN says it has obtained court documents that show the convicts insisted their innocence until their beheading day. According to the documents, the individuals said the confessions were totally false and were written by the interrogators who tortured them. The mass execution, one of the largest in Saudi Arabia’s history, drew international condemnations. Rights groups say most of those killed were Shia Muslims. At least three of those executed were also minors at the time of their sentencing.

Quitting NPT an option: Zarif

Iran’s foreign minister says the Islamic Republic is considering different options including leaving the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, in the wake of the US move to end oil sanction waivers. Zarif criticized Israel for refusing to join the NPT, while possessing hundreds of nuclear warheads. He said this poses a threat to the region and beyond, and stressed that everyone should join the NPT. That’s a global pact designed to prevent the spread of atomic arms. Iran signed the NPT in 1968 which allows it to have a civilian nuclear program. Elsewhere in his remarks, Zarif said Iran will deal with US sanctions, with the help of the Iranian people.

Ukraine-Russia row

Ukraine’s president-elect has offered to provide citizenship to Russian nationals in response to Moscow’s decision to offer Ukrainians in eastern conflict zones quick citizenship. Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Kiev will provide citizenship to people who suffer from what he called authoritarian and corrupt regimes, in particular the Russians. He also warned Moscow against using the language of threats, military and economic pressures. Zelenskiy, however, underlined that Kiev is ready to discuss new conditions for normalization of ties with Russia. The 41-year-old president-elect had earlier urged more international sanctions against Moscow after the Russian president signed a decree to speed up citizenship applications from Ukrainians in areas controlled by pro-Russian forces. Vladimir Putin said the move was merely an effort to make the humanitarian situation easier for citizens in those areas.

Sudan breakthrough

Sudanese demonstrators have hailed the agreement between army rulers and protest leaders on the formation of a transitional government. The protesters have called the agreement a step forward in the stability of Sudan. But, they have promised to continue their sit-in in Khartoum until a civilian administration is set up. On Saturday, Sudan’s ruling military agreed to form a joint civilian-military council, in response to the protesters’ demand for civilian rule. The protest leaders say they are now in talks with the military rulers on the composition of the future council. It will replace the military council that was formed earlier this month, following the ouster of president Omar al-Bashir. The army toppled him, after several months of rallies that broke out over high prices.

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