Iran nuclear rights
Tehran says the American and Israeli military aggression on Iran’s nuclear program back in June will not deter the country from seeking its right to peaceful nuclear energy. During his weekly presser in Tehran, Esmaeil Baqaei also said that the European Troika is disrupting Tehran’s cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency. He added Iran expects the UN nuclear agency to abide by its technical and specialized duties in the face of pressures by the US and the E3. Regarding the recent anti-Iran resolution by the Board of Governors of the IAEA, Baqaei said the resolution will further tarnish the independence of the UN agency. He said the move is a stain of disgrace for those who tabled the resolution. Baqaei added that the agreement between Iran and the IAEA signed in Cairo in September is now null and void.
Anti-Trump protests
Thousands in the United States have gathered in the capital, Washington DC, to call for the impeachment, conviction, and removal of President Donald Trump. The rally, billed as “Remove the Regime” and organized by a grassroots group known as the Removal Coalition, drew a number of current and former officials. The Protesters say the Trump administration has ignored the majority of Americans, fueling widespread public frustration. The demonstration comes during a record-setting year for nationwide protests amid growing discontent with the administration. Last month, more than seven million people joined the “No Kings” protests, which unfolded during what later became a record-breaking government shutdown.
US anti-Maduro plots
The United States is reportedly preparing to launch a new phase of operations targeting Venezuela, as the Trump administration intensifies pressure on President Nicolás Maduro. Two US officials say the options under review include attempting to overthrow Maduro, a step Caracas has long warned the U-S is seeking. The timing and scope of the planned operations remain unclear but US military forces have been building up in the Caribbean for months. This as Washington has already authorized covert CIA activities inside Venezuela. At least six international airlines have cancelled flights departing from the country after the US Federal Aviation Administration warned of a potentially hazardous situation over Venezuelan airspace. Since September, the US has launched at least 21 strikes on boats in the Pacific and Caribbean under the pretext of combating drug trafficking. Human rights groups call the attacks illegal extrajudicial killings and warn of potential violations of international law.