resistance is not of politics but a culture. this could. on its own. cultures of resistance on the march.

you're watching our t.v. live from moscow and the headlines the u.n. general assembly prepares to vote in an arab resolution putting blame for violence in syria solely on the government that's amid fears the country might soon plunge into sectarian chaos. a fresh wave of downgrade sweeps across the struggling euro

zone a six nations get their debt rating scott all this while greece faces further ballot hurdles from the e.u. despite its latest harsh austerity plan. and russian military predicts the west might decide on a military strike against iran before summer as crowds gather over tehran following israel's accusations about the islamic state but behind monday's attack on diplomatic personnel. well a circle of tension is contracting around iran as tel aviv accuses it of orchestrating attacks on israeli diplomats it comes amid strained relations in the region with the west deeply concerned over tehran's controversial nuclear program for more on that are to talk to brian bakker a member of the answer antiwar coalition. thank you for joining us on r.t. thank you but does the united states want from tightening the sanctions.

there it's even beyond tightening the sanctions now indeed it is the united states government has created an artificial crisis that's first and foremost it's a manufactured crisis iran is complying with the i.a.e.a. iran does not have a nuclear weapon iran is not threaten its neighbors iran has not started a war with any of its neighbors israel on the other hand has hundreds of nuclear weapons and unlike iran refuses to sign a nuclear nonproliferation treaty does not allow. inspectors into its country so there's not really a nuclear menace or a nuclear danger from iran and so what is the cause what's the cause of the crisis of the artificial crisis the real goal is the united states government has embarked on a course of extreme economic aggression against iran with the hope that by creating economic suffering economic isolation economic misery that part of the population

will rise up or become disenfranchised with the government so that the u.s. can do as it has in history carry out regime change they deny that the u.s. denied that it's trying to carry out there was a change in iran right i mean we have to take that with a very very big grain of salt because we know that since nine hundred seventy nine the united states refuses to have relations with the islamic republic of iran why is that because iran is a dictatorship well it's actually a democratic government it has democratic features far beyond some of america's most foremost their allies in the middle east such as saudi arabia for instance since one thousand nine hundred nine iran became an independent government before that between one nine hundred fifty three in one thousand nine hundred seventy nine when the shah was there. the shah basically is a proxy or a puppet or a client of the american power and so the u.s. says they're not carrying out regime change but in fact everyone who is watching

knows that indeed is the u.s. policy to create pressure on iran carry out overt operate covert operations economic sanctions and now these new sanctions are not really even like the old saying they are saying to the rest of the world if you dare do business with iran central bank if you buy iranian oil which constitutes half of iran's g.n.p. if you have any business with iran whatsoever you will not have access to american banks to american corporations to the american market this is in fact a blockade something like an economic blockade of iran and by international law in economic blockade is an act of war and so we should understand it just like that so what do you think iran's response is going to be well iran so far has been very prudent even though they said that they would consider closing the strait of hormuz

that six mile stretch of the persian arabian gulf where twenty five percent of the world's oil supply goes through. and even though much was made of that in the western media in fact iran has not done anything to give the u.s. . pretext an excuse a provocation so to speak that would allow the united states or israel to trigger a set of military actions iran i think is also telling its people that we are not panicked the iranian government are not panicked that they're trying to show that they have a serenity and a calmness and a confidence and that they will weather the storm but in fact economic sanctions are taking a bite on the iranian economy right now there is a lot to see about this israeli possible attack specially israeli. possible attack wall street journal says that the u.s. is planning a plan b. said israel attacked i think the israelis try to pretend that iran constitutes an

excess stencil threat to israel i don't think that that in fact is the case even though iran's military has the capability to do great damage to israel in the event of a war even though israel is a nuclear power i think that the israeli government has a pattern and a practice of invasion and bombing of its neighbors in the middle east it carried out the bombing of a racks a nuclear facility in one thousand nine hundred one even though that was permitted by international law and subject to spec sions in other words a nuclear program for civilian energy purposes israel came and bombed it they did the same to syria in the last few years and they would like to carry out military strikes against the iranian government the americans don't want there right now even though they are happy to be have iran in a state of tension they don't really want israel to become the main protagonist

with the iranian government by carrying out an unprovoked military strike i mean i'm talking about the main sectors in the american establishment because that would then present the crisis struggle between the islamic republic of iran on one side and the israelis ionise regime on the other and in that case iran will be able to mobilize mass support throughout the middle east for it the united states has a different tact they want to keep israel sort of in the background lou mean danger in threatening iran in one way keeping iran in the state of tension perhaps militarily but have the economic sanctions do the bulk of the work by carrying out economic and financial isolation against the iranian government they think in the long term that's the easier way the better way or the more effective way to carry out regime. the u.s. has puzzled over israel's intentions so what if israel does decide to strike iran and this is a u.s. official says it's hard to know what's

a bluster and what's not with israelis well i think a lot of this is baloney and nonsense the israelis are the recipient the benefactor of three billion dollars a year in u.s. military aid if they do something that's completely contrary to what washington wants they will be on the very short end of the stick the israelis are not dominating in dictating u.s. policy in this geo strategically they are not they have a big influence in washington they have a strong lobby but when it comes to iran or when it comes to iraq the israelis do not tell the united states what to do it's vice versa if israel strikes know if the conflict is presented that way between the islamic republic and israel the people of the middle east will really to the side of iran the assassination of the iranian scientist which rick santorum called half a measure. or john bolton of. the former u.s.

ambassador to the united nations the sanctions that tightening up the sanctions the . coalition that the u.s. is trying to building in iraq what is iran going to do to face all of this pressure well iran has certain is to iran has russia and it has china increasingly it has venezuela and cuba another words those governments in the world in addition of course to syria which has its own problems right now but the countries in the world don't want the entire world to be dominated by one power the united states of america they recognize that the existence of iran as an independent government is something that is positive meaning that if the united states were were were to be successful in carrying out regime change in iran. they would be emboldened to carry out further destabilizing efforts against other powers including russia and china by the way even though there are great powers. so i

think that iran has allies and i think iran is trying to show that they can weather the storm and also that they can rally their population in spite of the fact the divisions that were revealed in two thousand and nine after the elections the presidential elections the iranian people as a whole don't believe they should be sanctioned the iranian people believe that they have as they do the right to develop nuclear power for peaceful civilian purposes and i think right now the iranian government is trying to weather the storm they're also making it clear that they don't options that they have they have limited options they have limited options and and that's the big issue here i think is that. in america right now in the united states nobody feels this issue they don't feel there's a war looming they don't feel the problem of economic sanctions it's the iranians who are feeling it it's the tension the pressure of the economic problems are all

one sided this is like a great power the seven hundred pound gorilla who decides to sit wherever it wants to sit and it can create immense tension and pressure and economic suffering somewhere else without having to endure any political price so that that is the big problem and as a peace activist and as someone who believes in human rights in i think will do will see this more and more in the united states we are starting to concentrate our efforts to expose the fact that the united states government is carrying out through a different set of tactics the same thing that they did in iraq they carried out regime change in iraq not to make iraq more democratic more human rights oriented but to dominate a wreck and i think they they want to do that in iran and we need to have people outside of iran stand up and say iran should not be alone on this that's not presidential elections have any say in what's going on in and what's going to happen with iran in terms of washington. i think the presidential elections in the

united states definitely play a role in u.s. policy towards iran that by the way has been the case ever since the iranian revolution iran has factored into american politics in this case the republican candidates are sort of baiting obama and suggesting that if obama is reelected we will have a nuclear armed iran someday soon well i do something just to counter their statements because it's an election year i don't think so i think that it's not out of the question that obama could opportunistically up the ante or even escalate tensions or even allow some sort of limited military attack against iran in order to show how tough he is and how why. he's not a liberal or something like that but i don't think so this is a very big project for the pentagon for the cia for the us establishment i think it goes beyond electoral politics and i think the obama administration and the pentagon are having a carefully calibrated approach that won't again with regime change the republicans

and democrats share the same objective one is more demagogic lee militant against iran they both share the same objective which is to bring iran back into an americans fear of influence and i think the republicans can't move obama that much because obama actually has the backing of the pentagon in terms of this particular approach the pentagon is bogged down in afghanistan they really were pushed out of iraq they have a lot of a lot of military problems a major full scale war right now which could happen even if they don't intend it by people climb the escalation latter.

mine. too much brighter than if you move from phones to pressure in some. stunts on t.v. don't come. party's top stories the u.n. general assembly prepares to vote on an arab resolution putting blame for violence in syria soley on the government amid fears the country might soon plunge into sectarian chaos. a fresh wave of downgrades sweeps across the struggling euro zone a six nations get their debt rating all this while greece faces further ballot hurdles from the e.u. despite its latest partial study plan. and the russian military predicts the west

might decide that a military strike against iran before summer as crowds gather over tehran following israel's accusations that the islamic state was behind monday's attacks on diplomatic personnel. sports news is next here on r.t. with kate. hello welcome to the latest sports update as we kick off a week of european football action the headlines find the elements remains you're a pretty timer the n.p.r. calls goes ahead in subzero temperatures in moscow in the final minutes of the new sneaky stadium. while coming back strong to call us down as he sets to return to manchester city hall for a three month exile you know if you tina. allen red stars russia's skaters shine or some of the best in the world take to the ice in the swiss city of tabs. but first

ravines you're right police match with olympiacos is going to head in moscow despite temperatures around minus twelve here in the russian capital well due to the harsh weather conditions will be already have to forfeit the home advantage and played moscow and officials were happy to go ahead on the artificial take advantage make the stadium going to the last few minutes there the first leg of the last thirty two match and the score is one nil to the greeks like they did first putting them head off to seventy one minutes then they had a man sent off and conceded the penalty which was saved one mail to the greek side in the final minutes there doesn't mean one of those one other europa league game this tuesday night and in a considerably warmer climate the sporting braga but of course you cite four times last year's final as they should start from turkey. well meanwhile the champions league also regimes this tuesday with defending champions barcelona in germany faced by a lay vickie's and in the first leg of the last sixteen losses suffered a surprise three two defeat at officer you know on saturday to finish the weekend

ten points adrift of league indeed israel madrid manager pep guardiola admits that gap will be hard to call back but in the meantime his side are intent on reaching the quarter finals in europe's top club competition. we we achieve two. through these years in the. we arrive in the another final in the end of the main the cobra. in back behind of the of the leak it would be tough to to recover the points but during the in this did round in i'm going to try where our target is play a bit as best as possible arrive to the quarterfinals then go to step by step well opponents later careers and will be without midfielder michael ballack who picked up an injury during training the thirty five year old has sat on the bench for his side's last three bundesliga matches but was expected to feature against vasa however his side has done well it's home in europe winning all the games at the buy arena during the group stage of the tournament. where french joins me on will be

looking to bolster their defenses when they take on cypriot side after well in their last sixteen clash on paper early on the overwhelming favorites having reached the knockout stage for the ninth consecutive year while apple will have gone this far into the competition for the first time however early on as domestic form currently has a lot to be desired they've picked up just one win out of their last five games and conceded goals in all of them while coach claiming god is taking nothing for granted if the. people talk about the histories of each club their budgets and other things that will matter much to read the game is just eleven players against another eleven who have other things to talk about after the match but until then i'm only thinking about the sports you side of things. now one notable admission from this season's champions league is turkish side for developing hundreds of their fans gathered outside the court in turkey to voice their support for the club's president was almost one hundred other high profile figures went on trial president as easy a little there is among those charged in

a match fixing probe nineteen league games are alleged to have been rigged last season including fenerbahce as title clinching for three big three of us of us for the club were replaced by tribes anspaugh in the champions league in the wake of the scandal. well meanwhile over in england man. the city expects strike a cost test to return to the club this year's day the twenty eight year old is set to report to city's carrington training ground for a series of fitness tests on a jet about a man cheney says he would welcome the return of tess who has not played since he allegedly refused to warm up in city's tuna last and by in munich in september and has been in his native argentina since november the seventh the strike again has paid an estimated three hundred fifteen thousand dollars a week has lost an estimated sixteen million dollars in wages fines and lost bonuses to those was linked with moves to ac milan into milan and paris during the january transfer window as i run came off for me while english premier league leaders city have lost two of the last four in

a good cup games. and have decided to return because i didn't say anything to the club and i want to return to see if i can sort out the situation and see frank employee score goals and where the men choose to see the jersey i know is going to be hurt but it will be a good challenge for me the people at syria are against me because of what happened but they were badly informed. and staying with the ball and scottish giants glasgow rangers have lodged legal papers signaling their intention to go into administration the iraq club took the decision after admitting he could be facing a tax bill of substantially more than seventy seven million dollars if they proceed the scottish champions would immediately be hit with a ten point deduction which would effectively end their bid for a fourth successive title rangers are currently four points behind league leaders and dodge rival celtic the club's owner craig whyte says the decision was hard but necessary to safeguard the club's future. however there are better times for

zambian fans who gave their national team a hero's welcome on their return from winning the africa cup of nations thousands gathered at least soccer airport where the cup of bullets took touchdown and they beat star studded twenty eight favorites the ivory coast eight seven on penalties on sunday night to time the trophy for the first time. more than thirteen years and thousands more lined the streets of the team were driven on the back upon the trucks to show grounds where speeches and celebrations were planned. while there was little to celebrate in brazil after a player was arrested and later released despite bashing his opponent with a camera stand during an on pitch ball the incident happened at a magical local championships in one of the country states make for that exam but i carry off attacking defend the other van as the latter was during the places the victim was carried off on a stretcher and taken to hospital but scans revealed there was no serious injury and he refused to press charges. now we want to head of the heavyweight title fight

to british boxing that it just sorta has promised to knock out w.b.c. champion italy klitschko but their boxes faced off in front of the camera at a joint news conference in munich on monday many are calling the fight hard to predict who is just or is thirteen years younger than forty year old klitschko but the ukrainian has a much greater reach and more experience although just all right doesn't see that as a problem and has even chosen the runs in which your flow is a problem or. looking forward to what is five and i train hard in the way we're going to be fighting to be a hundred miles an hour from the first round of the round problems you friends about is going down. action now from the n.b.a. where the new orleans hornets have broken an eight game losing streak after beating the utah jazz eighty six points to eighty the hornets led by as many as twenty points in the third quarter but try to come back by return your leaders managed to hold on and wrap up their third victory in twenty six games for it center chris

kaman scored twenty seven points in ground searching rebounds after starting and with his seventh game of the season. well there are a stoudemire has returned to the new york knicks after missing a week following the death of his brother in a car crash before it has been training with his teammates in terre tran and has also been speaking about the team's newfound star jeremy lin who was absent from the session however he is taking full advantage of the squads recent injuries and selection problems helped lead the side to five wins in a row. i mean he's he's he's my world i mean on in the new york when you come an. international icon award you know but it was something about new york man where these players were about the current of being a sensation. and finally some of russia's best biggest status have been showing off their talent at a star studded exhibition event in switzerland with more of that jungle that.

once again the swiss mountains attracted some devoted figure skating fans male and serene endeavors gathered the best pairs and single skaters from around the globe two time world champion mickey and of japan was one of them demonstrating an emotional style and breathtaking elegance however it was russia which was represented most widely apart from the country's young talents elisabetta took to misha and after the chance he will like a spectator so the show could have seen europe's best couples as well he let me leave me in the key that gets a lot of one brooms at last month's european championship. losing to their gold when in comes better is to generalises and maksim turn call this time both pairs didn't have to compete but their beautiful glide in and engage in korea graphy showed their desire to never stop improving and an extraordinary light show and video projections on the ice made up the framework for these amazing performances.

for others are the atmosphere is just amazing that when you go out of the arena you see such a beautiful picture clear sky now and people skiing around we always come here with great pleasure and really enjoy our time here. this show desk help us a lot i think because here we can go for some things which are not allowed in the real competitions and it might be quite useful and it's also great to have so many people watching. in the meantime this week had a chance to enjoy their countrymen splender twenty eleven year pin champion sara meyer entertained a whole crowd alongside the two time world champion stefan one g.m. he retired in twenty ten but it looks like he hasn't lost his touch. i don't wriggle rience parts he was and that's all the process for this bulletin that we mourn just.

the. science technology innovation all the developments around.