President Donald Trump has indicated that negotiations between the United States and Iran could restart this weekend, suggesting both nations are "very close" to reaching an agreement to end the ongoing conflict.
However, BBC Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet reports from Tehran that while many Iranians desire an end to hostilities with the U.S., the country's leadership maintains a defiant posture. They do not perceive themselves as having lost the war and are reportedly unwilling to accept a deal solely on Washington's terms.
"Iranians are keen to end the enmity with the US, but leaders do not believe they have lost the war and are not willing to make a deal on Washington's terms," Doucet stated in her report.
Doucet is operating under strict reporting conditions in Iran, which include a prohibition on her material being used by the BBC's Persian Service—a restriction that applies to all international media organizations working within the country.