Overview of Mideast war: The view from Tehran
This episode of the FT’s Rachman Review examines the Iran-Israel-U.S. conflict from Tehran’s perspective. Host Gideon Rachman speaks with Nazmeh Bozorgmehr, the Financial Times’ Tehran correspondent, about how Iranian officials and ordinary people view the ceasefire, the stalled peace talks, the nuclear file, and the risk of renewed war. The central message: Iran is wary, traumatized, and unwilling to give up its key deterrents, even as it appears open to limited compromise.
Key takeaways
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Iran suspects U.S. signaling is inconsistent and tactical.
Tehran believes Washington may be sending mixed messages on purpose, making a durable agreement harder to reach. -
Peace talks are not just about the nuclear issue.
Iran sees the negotiations as encompassing broader strategic assets, especially:- the Strait of Hormuz
- missile and drone capabilities
- regional proxies
- sanctions relief and frozen assets
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Iran is open to compromise, but not disarmament.
Bozorgmehr says Tehran may accept limits and inspections on its nuclear program, but will not abandon uranium enrichment entirely or surrender its leverage. -
The Strait of Hormuz remains a major red line.
Iran does not appear willing to “open it unconditionally.” At most, it may consider some compromise over tolls or access arrangements, but not relinquishing control. -
Hardliners are influential but not necessarily decisive.
Ultra-hardline factions in parliament and state media oppose concessions and pressure negotiators, but signs suggest they may be being sidelined by the broader leadership. -
Iran’s leadership is operating under extreme security pressure.
After the deaths of senior figures over the past year, officials are highly cautious about public appearances and personal safety.
What Tehran thinks it needs from a deal
Strategic priorities
Iran’s position, as described in the interview, is that it needs:
- recognition as a legitimate state
- relief from sanctions and economic pressure
- preservation of strategic deterrence
- avoidance of a Libya-style collapse scenario
Nuclear file
Bozorgmehr says Iran:
- is willing to make nuclear concessions
- may accept international inspections
- insists on retaining the right to enrich uranium
- will not agree to fully shut down the program
Internal politics and power struggles
A major theme is the tension between:
- pragmatists/negotiators, who want to end the conflict
- ultra-hardliners, who warn against compromise and fear vulnerability if Iran gives up uranium stockpiles or Hormuz leverage
The interview suggests the hardliners remain loud and embedded in institutions, but they are not clearly the ultimate decision-makers.
Public mood in Iran
Fear, fatigue, and trauma
Bozorgmehr describes Iranian society as deeply traumatized after:
- two wars
- heavy bombing of Tehran
- severe crackdowns on protests
- a wave of executions
The public mood has shifted from political transformation to survival, stability, and exhaustion.
Protest movement
The anti-government protest wave has been weakened by repression and by the war itself. Many Iranians now see regime change as too costly or unattainable through domestic action alone.
Economy and daily life
Inflation and hardship
The economic situation is extremely strained:
- inflation has reportedly risen above 80%
- food inflation is even higher in some categories
- many small and medium businesses are cutting jobs or salaries
- shortages are limited, but prices are crushing households
Coping mechanisms
Despite the pressure, Iran still has some buffers:
- strong family support networks
- informal mutual aid systems
- a small monthly food coupon program
- continued availability of most goods, even if they are increasingly unaffordable
Tehran’s wartime experience and current normality
Bozorgmehr describes Tehran as a city that lived under bombardment for weeks and still feels vulnerable to a renewed attack. But daily life has resumed:
- cafes and restaurants are busy
- traffic has returned
- cinemas and theaters are open
The mood is one of normalization under threat: people keep living, even while fearing the war could restart at any time.
Bottom line
The interview paints Iran as a state that is:
- open to limited diplomacy
- unwilling to surrender core deterrents
- deeply scarred by war and repression
- still trying to preserve internal stability while avoiding collapse
The biggest obstacle to a deal, from Tehran’s point of view, is not just the substance of the demands — it is the belief that the U.S. may not truly be ready to make a lasting agreement.