Iran protests aftermath as Trump renews nuclear threats (Full Transcript)

[00:00:00] Speaker 1: Tonight we're reporting from inside Iran as Donald Trump renews his threats against the Islamic regime Saying the u.s. Will have to do something very tough if a deal isn't reached over its nuclear program After indirect talks between u.s. And Iranian delegations ended last week in Oman. Mr. Trump now says he's considering Sending a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East having last month dispatched several other warships close to Iranian waters Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on his way to the White House for talks, saying the most important topic for discussion will be Iran. All this comes a month after widespread anti-government protests were followed by a bloody crackdown from the authorities that a U.S.-based human rights group says killed close to 7,000 people. More opposition figures were detained inside the country this week. For the first time since the unrest, the BBC is there, with our Chief International Correspondent Lise Doucette reporting on condition that none of her material is used on the BBC's Persian service, a restriction that applies to all international media organisations operating inside the country. So let's join Lise now, live in Tehran. Lise, over to you.

[00:01:20] Speaker 2: Yes, Clive. Well, I think our viewers know that in these momentous weeks in Iran, it's been exceptionally difficult, not impossible, but really difficult to find out exactly what's been happening on the ground, especially because of this almost total internet blackout, which has been lifted, but not completely. It has been eased. Even when you're here, it's hard to find out everything that's going on. But what has been clear in recent weeks is that Iranians want their voices and their views to be heard. The skies of Tehran were exploding tonight. Now it's only fireworks lighting the dark. But from their windows, people chant. Allahu Akbar, God is greatest, cried government supporters. A celebration of the 47th anniversary of their Islamic revolution. We hear other chants in other parts of this city. Death to the dictator. That was one of the cries which set the streets alight across Iran last month and was met by lethal force, including gunmen on motorcycles. This video from the city of Shiraz in the southwest has just emerged. Violence the government blames on terrorists and troublemakers. The streets of this capital are now back to their everyday busyness. Flags and bunting to mark the revolution brighten the grey. But a dark pall hangs over this city. We can feel it even in the short time we've been here in Tehran when we speak to people on the streets. The pain is still palpable after unprecedented force was used to put down unprecedented protests, causing a huge loss of life.

[00:03:23] Speaker 3: I haven't slept or eaten properly for a month. Look at me. I am only 32 years old. Why should I be feeling depressed? What crimes did our youth commit? They call them rioters. Protesters were not armed. They just wanted a better life.

[00:03:41] Speaker 4: They killed so many people and then the next day pretended as if nothing has happened.

[00:03:46] Speaker 2: We have high unemployment and prices have hit the roof, from meat to cooking oil and chicken." The government wants this week to be a show of its strength. The supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, has called on Iranians to take to the streets tomorrow to display their loyalty to the Islamic Republic and drive its enemies to despair. Today, more than 2,000 prisoners were pardoned. But Iran's chief justice, Mohseni Ejaieh, made sure none of the many thousands of people arrested in the unrest were included. More dissenters were detained this week, including prominent reformists. Many Iranians will turn out tomorrow, but many won't. All too worried about all too much. Angry about what happened last month. Anxious about what could happen this month. With America's threat of military action also looming large in their lives.

[00:04:52] Speaker 1: Lise, the indirect talks with the US, they ended last week in Oman Oman and there's no timetable, as we understand at the moment, for a second round of discussions. Is there a sense that diplomacy might not be enough now to stop an American attack?

[00:05:10] Speaker 2: Well, we've certainly seen this massive military build-up in the Arabian Sea and we've heard the threats from Iran, the warnings to President Trump. In fact, they're making these warnings that if he does strike, that he will unleash a massive conflict right across this region and chaos that will not leave anyone untouched because they know this is what President Trump doesn't want. He wants a short, sharp, successful strike. And he has said he would prefer to have a deal. Iran says it would prefer to have a deal. I have to say that if you compare this period of diplomacy to last year, to the talks which were shattered when Israel attacked Iran, there is much more diplomacy now. The top security official Ali Larijani has gone to Oman in the Gulf, which Oman is now the main Arab mediator, carrying a message, and there's been discussions there. The foreign minister here, Abbas Araqchi, is on the phone constantly to his counterparts across this region, and they're on the phone to President Trump also warning, don't strike. But it all depends what happens on the table. Iran keeps saying we want fair talks. In other words, it will not accept a maximalist demand for zero enrichment. But maybe a low level. It only wants to discuss nuclear. It all depends on what happens in the White House when Prime Minister Netanyahu is talking to President Trump. So it's still unpredictable and still perilous.

[00:06:35] Speaker 1: Indeed. Lise, thank you. Lise Doucette there live in Tehran, our Chief International Correspondent reporting there. Well, what's the view from Washington? Sarah Smith is in the US Capitol for us now. Donald Trump, Sarah, he is talking tough again, suggesting he might send another aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf and Benjamin Netanyahu will be in town. Iran at the top of the agenda.

[00:06:59] Speaker 5: Yes, certainly, those talks will be taking place in the White House tomorrow when Benjamin Netanyahu is here. There is good reason why Donald Trump is making these threats, because he believes a show of force is the thing that might persuade Iran to do a deal that they wouldn't do last year. So he's already sent what he calls a massive armada to the region with an aircraft carrier, three destroyers and additional aircraft and now he's talking about possibly sending another aircraft carrier strike group as well and this is all intended to heap pressure on the Iranian regime. Donald Trump says he is convinced that they were unable to reach a diplomatic solution last year because Iran didn't believe he was prepared to take military action. Now he's told an Israeli TV channel, that he thinks Iran is desperate to make a deal because they saw last July those US aircraft striking, bombing the Iranian nuclear sites and they know that he is prepared to take military action and that's very much the message he wants to send. Now that was complicated last month when he told Iranian protesters to keep up their protest, help is on its way and then he didn't follow through with any kind of action. But he firmly believes it is a show of force and him repeating that he is prepared to use that military force that will get Iran to talk about a deal they wouldn't have contemplated otherwise and you're absolutely right, that will be right at the top of the agenda in talks with the Israeli Prime Minister at the White House tomorrow.