WMAL Interview - AMB. JOHN BOLTON - 01.02.18

INTERVIEW -- AMB. JOHN BOLTON - Former UN Ambassador

IRAN PROTESTS:

Nine more people have died in overnight clashes between protesters and security forces in Iran, state television has reported, as unrest in the country entered a sixth day.

Iran blocks Instagram, Telegram after protests. Iran has restricted access to the Instagram and Telegram social media apps as a security measure during rare anti-government protests, according to state TV.

It is estimated that 21 people have now died nationwide in unrest linked to the demonstrations, the largest in Iran since its disputed 2009 presidential election, reports the Guardian.

Protests over the weak economy and a jump in food prices that began on Thursday in Mashhad have spread to cities across the country and taken on a political dimension. Some protesters have chanted slogans against the government of Iran’s moderate president, Hassan Rouhani, and the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Exclusive leaked memo shows Iranian regime in panic after deadly protests. Leaked meeting notes provided exclusively to Fox News shows how Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei met with political leaders and heads of the country's security forces to discuss how to tamp down on deadly nationwide protests ... The memo covered several meetings up to Dec. 31 and was given to the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) by high-level sources from within the regime. It said the unrest has hurt every sector of the country's economy and “threatens the regime’s security. The first step, therefore, is to find a way out of this situation.” The notes added, “Religious leaders and the leadership must come to the scene as soon as possible and prevent the situation (from) deteriorating further ... God help us, this is a very complex situation and is different from previous occasions.”

NORTH KOREA

North Korea To US: Get Ready For More Nukes In 2018 https://trib.al/eXXDu5h

Kim says US should know North Korean nuclear force a reality. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said Monday that the United States should be aware that his country's nuclear forces are now a reality, not a threat. But he also struck a conciliatory tone in his New Year's address, wishing success for the Winter Olympics set to begin in South Korea in February and suggesting the North may send a delegation to participate. Kim, wearing a Western-style gray suit and tie, said in his customary annual address that his country had achieved the historic feat of "completing" its nuclear forces and added that he has a nuclear button on his desk. "The U.S. should know that the button for nuclear weapons is on my table," he said during the speech, as translated by The Associated Press. "The entire area of the U.S. mainland is within our nuclear strike range. ... The United States can never start a war against me and our country," Kim said.

LAST WEEK: South Korea seizes another ship suspected of providing oil to North Korea http://dlvr.it/Q8L7jM

• Mattis believes North Korea will face 'increased pressure' in coming months http://dlvr.it/Q85t7k via @foxnews

PAKISTAN

Trump rips Pakistan in first tweet of 2018. President Trump blasted Pakistan in his first tweet of 2018, saying its leaders have given the U.S. “nothing but lies & deceit.” “The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools,” he said Monday morning. “They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!” he added. Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more! 7:12 AM - Jan 1, 2018