Press TV's news headlines

Iran-US prisoner swap

Iran’s president is in New York to attend the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Speaking to US media corps, Ebrahim Raeisi described the recent prisoner swap deal between Iran and the US as a humanitarian measure. Raeisi said any step Washington takes toward fulfilling its commitment helps build confidence. Raeisi also touched upon several other issues. He stressed that the Iranian nation will not succumb to sanctions and even American officials have admitted that the so-called maximum pressure campaign against Tehran has failed. Elsewhere in his remarks, the Iranian president reiterated that US presence in West Asia will never create security there. Raeisi also noted that the promotion of ties with neighboring countries is one of his administration's key policies. But he said the interference of foreigners, including the US, has damaged some relations among regional countries.

Iran foreign assets

Some six billion dollars of Iranian assets that had been frozen in South Korea due to US sanctions have been transferred to the accounts of Iranian banks in Qatar. The funds are now under the control of Iran’s Central Bank and will be spent based on the country’s needs and priorities. That’s according to a statement by Iran’s Foreign Ministry. The ministry denounced as illegal and inhumane, Washington’s measures to prevent Iran's access to its financial resources in other countries. The statement said those governments that have blocked Iran’s assets must also be held accountable because of unjustifiably complying with illegal US demands. It added that their move caused financial and humanitarian damage to Iran, especially during the COVID pandemic. The Iranian funds had remained blocked in two South Korean banks since 2018.

Russia-EU row

Moscow has condemned a decision by the European Union to impose restrictions on Russians entering the 27-nation bloc. The Russian Foreign Ministry described the move as absurd. It also accused the bloc of trying to build a new Iron Curtain and warned that Russians should weigh the risks before traveling there. A week ago, the deputy head of Russia’s Security Council slammed the bans as racist. Dmitry Medvedev, who is also Russia’s former president, suggested that Moscow could retaliate by suspending diplomatic ties with the EU and recalling its diplomats from Brussels. Earlier this month, the EU Commission published a clarification note on procedures for Russians to enter the bloc. It banned the entry of personal cars and said items such as smartphones, laptops and cosmetic products were at risk of confiscation.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk