Iran press tv

Ukraine's first and currently only television channel in the Crimean Tatar language says it is on the brink of shutting down operations due to lack of government funding. ATR hasn't received $2 million that the government allocated for the channel in this year's state budget, a statement by the channel said on Feb. 10. The channel said it received $610,000 on its account on Dec. 28, but couldn't access the money because banks were closed that day so it had to return the money, as required by law. A portion of the $2 million that was allocated this year was transferred to ATR's account, but the channel said the state treasury had blocked access to it. In response, ATR has launched a fundraising campaign and is broadcasting from an empty studio without presenters and guests. ATR is a part of a media holding that is majority-owned by Lenur Islyamov and initially stopped broadcasting in Crimea after the occupying Russian authorities refused to issue a broadcasting license after … [Read more...] about Ukraine-Based Crimean Tatar TV Channel Blames Lack of State Funding for Imminent Closure

DUBAI: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Sunday (Feb 7) that Tehran's "final and irreversible" decision was to return to compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal only if Washington lifts sanctions on the Islamic Republic, Iranian state TV reported. The comment, as well as US President Joe Biden's separate statement that the United States would not lift sanctions simply to get Iran back to the negotiating table, appeared to be posturing by both sides as they weigh whether and how to revive the pact. The deal between Iran and six major powers limited Iran's uranium enrichment activity to make it harder for Tehran to develop nuclear arms - an ambition Iran has long denied having - in return for the easing of U.S. and other sanctions. But former US President Donald Trump abandoned the deal in 2018, denouncing it as one-sided in Iran's favour, and reimposed sanctions that have crippled Iran's economy. "Iran has fulfilled all its obligations under the deal, not the … [Read more...] about Iran takes ‘final’ stance on nuclear deal, says US must lift sanctions before Tehran rejoins

TEHRAN: The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog met on Sunday (Feb 21) with Iran’s atomic chief ahead of plans to partly suspend United Nations inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities, state TV reported. Iran’s parliament in December approved a bill that would suspend part of UN inspections of its nuclear facilities under a 2015 nuclear deal if European signatories do not provide relief from oil and banking sanctions by Feb 23. It would also halt the implementation of an additional protocol that allows the IAEA inspectors to carry out more intrusive inspections to Iran’s nuclear facilities. READ: Biden withdraws Trump's restoration of UN sanctions on Iran READ: Iran takes 'final' stance on nuclear deal, says US must lift sanctions before Tehran rejoins Following the 2015 deal, Iran voluntarily agreed to implement the additional protocol. On Saturday, Ali Akbar Salehi, head of the Iran’s nuclear department, said he and Rafael Grossi would meet on Sunday to … [Read more...] about Head of UN nuke watchdog meets Iran nuclear chief in Tehran

DUBAI: Iran's health minister warned on Saturday of a fourth COVID-19 surge with the possible spread of a mutated virus in the worst-hit country in the Middle East. President Hassan Rouhani told state television "alarm bells were ringing for a fourth coronavirus wave" as at least nine cities and towns in Iran's southwest were declared high-risk "red" zones after a rise in cases on Friday. "Hard days are beginning for us and you must prepare to fight the most uncontrollable mutated virus which is unfortunately infecting the country," health minister Saeed Namaki told heads of medical colleges in a meeting carried live on state TV. Namaki said Iran's three first deaths this week from the virus variant first found in Britain - including that of a 71-year-old woman with no history of travel - suggested that the virus was spreading and soon "may be found in any city, village or family". Namaki urged Iranians to avoid gatherings in order "not to turn weddings into funerals" during … [Read more...] about Iran sees risk of fourth COVID-19 wave fed by mutant virus

SEOUL: The recent drama between the United States and Iran has elements North Korea will find of great interest. From Tehran’s perspective, the tensions must look like a story of a small, poor but proud country pushing against an incursive superpower, using asymmetrical means, and that superpower responding with a targetted but overwhelming force with a surgical strike on a national hero. Last week, the US government responded to Iranian provocations by killing top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, and Iran retaliated by declaring all US military personnel “terrorists” and launching attacks on US military installations in neighbouring Iraq. The Middle East tensions come at a time when some analysts are nearly ready to give up on the prospect of Washington and Pyongyang reaching a lasting agreement regarding the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula and the lifting of US economic sanctions. The two sides’ recent attempts to sit down for negotiations, including the second … [Read more...] about Commentary: As Iran-US drama plays out, North Korea leader Kim Jong Un takes notes