How Iran is reacting as Trump pulls back from threat to wipe out civilization

Geoff Bennett:

Let's shift our focus now to Tehran and special correspondent Reza Sayah, who's been following this precarious back-and-forth from the Iranian capital.

So, Reza, the news of a two-week cease-fire just came. Have you heard any reaction yet?

Reza Sayah:

Yes, no official reaction from government officials, other than that they have accepted this proposal.

But I think, publicly, they're going to pour trade as a victory against the United States and Israel. Just like Mr. Trump on Monday and his secretary of war portrayed the recovery of the U.S. fighter pilot as a huge victory and a show of U.S. military might, I think Iran is going to portray disagreement as a win.

Remember, for Iran, survival was always victory. And despite taking many losses, the destruction of military hardware, the destruction of industrial and economic infrastructure, the assassination of political military leaders, the loss of their supreme leader, they are still standing.

And, for them, this is a win. And state media is reporting it as such. I'm going to read you a couple of headlines that were just published a couple of minutes ago. Fars News Agency writing "Trump Once Again Retreating." Mehr News headline is "The Strength and Resistance of Iran Forced Trump to Accept a Cease-Fire."

So, certainly they're presenting it as a win. But I think, moving forward, all eyes are going to be on the Strait of Hormuz. The agreement says Iran must open it, and we will see if they open it and what they do beyond the two weeks.

Geoff Bennett:

It's striking to hear you say that, for Iran, survival is victory.

How then did Iranian officials react to President Trump's threat earlier today to erase an entire civilization in Iran, as he threatened?

Reza Sayah:

Yes, I think the people who reacted negatively. They were very concerned about what he meant.

When you have the leader of the free world, the president of the strongest country in the world threatening to erase your civilization, you wonder what he means. The military leaders were more dismissive. Their position is, if he's going to attack our infrastructure, we're going to do the same.

But I think that rhetoric is behind us right now. And moving forward, we're going to see how this plays out and especially beyond these two weeks. Remember, it was increasingly clear that Iran's hold of the Strait of Hormuz was a lever they never had before until this war, a lever with which they could wage war on the global economy in response to U.S. and Israeli bombings and in many ways guarantee their security.

And I think it'll be very interesting to see two weeks from now. This was their demand to keep a hold of the Strait of Hormuz, to change the protocol. Will they stand firm next to that demand or forgo it? That's going to be key moving forward.

Geoff Bennett:

And, Reza Sayah, finally, do Iranians, based on your reporting and based on your conversations, do they think that this will lead to a lasting peace?

Reza Sayah:

I think it's too early.

I think my impression is, most Iranians are going to be relieved that seven weeks of being bombed is over, that they can take a breath, that they can rest. But, in the past 47 years, they haven't been able to rest much. It's been 47 years where they have faced a brutal government and pressure, sanctions, and two wars, facing the United States and Israel.

So I think they're going to be able to take a breath, exhale for a couple of weeks, and we will see what unfolds after this two-week cease-fire and if the peace is sustained or we're back to conflict and hostilities.

Geoff Bennett:

Reza Sayah joining us tonight from Tehran.

Reza, our thanks to you.