Links to three reports: from the Associated Press, National Public Radio, and Consortium News; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (Scroll down for IRAN 1-16-26 and UKRAINE and VENEZUELA.) — MCM

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Iran’s leader calls Trump a ‘criminal’ for backing protests and blames demonstrators for deaths, by Elena Becatoros | AP  DUBAI — Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei today branded U.S. President Donald Trump a “criminal” for supporting protesters in Iran, and blamed demonstrators for causing thousands of deaths. He said the protests had left “several thousand” people dead. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.

A protester from Iran shares her experience. Scott Simon of NPR speaks with A., an Iranian who recently left the country after participating in several days of protests. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Israel fears it can’t defend against Iran, by Joe Lauria | Special to Consortium News  Israel is fearful that its air defense systems, depleted by the Iranians in last June’s 12-day war, have not been sufficiently restored to withstand Tehran’s powerful response if Donald Trump’s public ravings leads him to bomb Iran. Thus Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Trump on Wednesday to ask him . . . READ MORE . . .

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