BBCPERSIAN — broadcast 20260808 133000 UTC 447 transcript segments Google Cloud Speech-to-Text API (Chirp) + Gemini 2.5 Flash Non-Thinking Data courtesy of The GDELT Project (https://www.gdeltproject.org/), from the Internet Archive TV News Archive. Machine transcription. Treat it as a searchable index of what was broadcast, not a verbatim quotation record. [00:00:22] The headlines say we want to fight, just like [00:00:26] Israel wants to, but when it wants to, we have the right to. [00:00:34] Peseshkian defends negotiations for Iran to reach a desirable agreement. [00:00:38] He says that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz [00:00:41] depends on the US accepting its [00:00:42] conditions. [00:00:45] Reports indicate that the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff warned [00:00:48] Trump's advisors, saying that a way out of the [00:00:52] war with Iran must be found, because its escalation could have [00:00:56] adverse effects. [00:00:58] Fresh Houthi attacks on the city of Marib killed at [00:01:02] least two civilians and eight soldiers of the legitimate Yemeni government. killed. [00:01:06] have been killed. [00:01:08] Environmental concerns regarding the continued closure of the [00:01:12] Strait of Hormuz. The accumulation of invasive aquatic species on ships [00:01:15] threatens the marine ecosystem. [00:01:44] Oman for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz is near, Tehran [00:01:47] insists that the reopening of this waterway depends on the US accepting [00:01:51] its conditions. Abbas Araqchi, Iran's foreign minister, said [00:01:54] that Tehran and Muscat are close to an agreement on a new shipping [00:01:58] route. However, the opening of this [00:02:02] strategic waterway requires other conditions, including compensation for [00:02:05] violations of the Islamabad agreement by the US. Meanwhile, Massoud [00:02:09] Pezeshkian, Iran's president, in defense of continuing negotiations with [00:02:13] the US, asked why we should fight when [00:02:16] we can get our rights through dialogue. Kasran Aji reports. [00:02:20] reports. Images of American [00:02:24] forces disembarking on an Iranian oil tanker in the [00:02:27] Sea of Oman. The US says that in the event of an agreement between Iran and [00:02:31] Oman, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz will end [00:02:34] Iran's naval blockade. But the Iranian [00:02:37] side apparently is not in such a hurry. The reopening of the [00:02:41] Strait of Hormuz has its own specific mechanism [00:02:45] and has no relation to the negotiations between Iran and Oman. [00:02:49] no. The Strait of Hormuz, as the opening [00:02:53] of the Strait of Hormuz, is actually subject to conditions [00:02:56] that the Islamic Republic of Iran will open [00:03:00] based on those conditions, and that also [00:03:03] depends on the extent of US acceptance [00:03:06] of the conditions set by the Islamic Republic of Iran. [00:03:10] The continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz is something that [00:03:13] hardliners in Iran welcome, despite the increased risk of [00:03:17] renewed war. This has largely [00:03:21] tied the government's hands for negotiation and ending it. [00:03:24] is. In order to [00:03:27] survive, we must know what we are doing. When do we [00:03:31] want to fight? When do we want peace? When do we want to [00:03:35] actually do our own work? I do my own work. No war, no [00:03:39] peace. China and America are friends. [00:03:41] are friends. [00:03:43] America's biggest enemy is China. Why don't they fight? [00:03:46] These days, hardliners openly criticize [00:03:49] the president and his decision to sign an agreement [00:03:53] to end the war with America. [00:03:56] They use harsh words. What did we give to America? [00:03:59] We had all the achievements. Why do you give false information to the people? [00:04:02] In the Strait of [00:04:05] a so-called military engagement started with ships that [00:04:09] had passed illegally. They come and announce that these people are traitors, they [00:04:12] all did not act. We have a president who [00:04:16] has no understanding. May God know [00:04:19] what to do with the Guardian Council, who brought such a person [00:04:22] to me. And may God curse the evil [00:04:26] Marandi, who went and forced this on the [00:04:30] people. The art is that the President of Iran, who seemingly hopes for a piece [00:04:33] from state television to deliver his message to the people, [00:04:37] today, on Reporters' Day, asked journalists for help [00:04:40] to, according to him, strengthen domestic cohesion. [00:04:43] Kasranji [00:04:52] Boroujerdi, the spokesman of the Revolutionary Guard, said that the opening of the Strait [00:04:55] of Hormuz has nothing to do with these negotiations, and that the conditions of the [00:04:58] Islamic Republic are the determinant. Given this, how close do you think [00:05:02] an agreement is? [00:05:06] Greetings to you, viewers. The reality [00:05:08] is that there seem to be many disagreements within [00:05:13] the Iranian leadership, as was also in your report. The statements [00:05:16] made by Mr. Pezeshkian about the advantages of [00:05:20] negotiation and the attack he is making [00:05:23] on the opponents of these negotiations indicate [00:05:27] that the conflicts behind the scenes are escalating. [00:05:30] However, I think on the other hand, this issue also carries [00:05:34] the message that an agreement with Oman is very [00:05:38] close. It seems that such an agreement [00:05:41] will take place. [00:05:44] The US is also in these so-called negotiations [00:05:48] a hidden or behind-the-scenes negotiator, who is, in any case, also [00:05:51] raising its demands through Oman. My understanding is that [00:05:55] most likely, the issue of even service [00:05:58] fees will be [00:06:01] applied to this waterway [00:06:05] and these issues. However, the reality [00:06:08] is that hardliners in Iran are making more [00:06:12] demands. In my opinion, this might be a miscalculation, [00:06:15] because Mr. Trump's administration will also make concessions [00:06:19] step by step. That is, in exchange for the opening of the [00:06:23] Strait of Hormuz, they will give a concession. If other issues are resolved, [00:06:27] then they will give other concessions. In addition, we also have this [00:06:31] risk, meaning Iran should always keep in mind [00:06:34] that out of every 10 barrels of oil that Iran exports, [00:06:38] 9 come out of the small coral island of [00:06:41] Kharg, because, in any case, other Iranian coasts do not have enough [00:06:45] depth for large oil tankers to dock. Therefore, an attack on Kharg [00:06:49] could cause many problems for Iran's economy [00:06:52] and oil exports in the long [00:06:56] run. Mr. Boroujerdi, you referred to the cost [00:07:00] that Iran might demand. Now, some refer to it as tolls. [00:07:03] Iran itself is saying that it is a service [00:07:07] fee. Previously, we saw that the US had said that [00:07:10] it would not allow Iran to take control of the [00:07:14] Strait of Hormuz. If, in any case, [00:07:17] based on reports that have not yet been confirmed, Reuters reported the day before yesterday [00:07:21] that Iran might take control. If this [00:07:24] happens, can we say that the US has retreated a little [00:07:28] from its red line and is giving these concessions? [00:07:32] Yes, in my opinion, if they accept [00:07:35] such a thing, whether they call it tolls, service fees, or whatever [00:07:38] they want to call it. In any case, it is a retreat [00:07:41] for America because they said that this is not acceptable [00:07:45] to them from the beginning. As the report came from one of [00:07:48] the senators, it seems that the fees that [00:07:52] Iran wants to collect are more than the fees that Oman [00:07:55] is supposed to receive. So this is the issue. But see, [00:07:59] legally, if we look at the issue, both Iran and [00:08:03] Oman can, in terms of international law, [00:08:05] impose such so-called fees. [00:08:09] Taking into account that in many other key parts of the [00:08:13] world, such a legal system has been established. [00:08:16] We even see this in Turkey, the Bosphorus Strait. [00:08:20] You have this issue between England and [00:08:24] France. We have this issue in Denmark, Norway, and [00:08:27] other places. The talk of concessions [00:08:31] to the Islamic Republic from the US. Will these [00:08:34] concessions, now considering what Mr. Pezeshkian has also said about [00:08:38] the existing differences, be able to [00:08:41] make the faction within Iran that opposes negotiations [00:08:44] and agreements agree in some way? [00:08:48] I don't think so. As [00:08:50] was also in your report, some of these differences with [00:08:54] people like Pezeshkian, Araqchi, Qalibaf, and [00:08:58] others are very serious. [00:09:01] In any case, the absence of leadership [00:09:05] on the scene has caused many politically [00:09:08] ambitious individuals to assert themselves on the scene. [00:09:11] and in short, it's a time [00:09:14] when it's time to gain [00:09:18] power and make their voices heard. [00:09:21] The fact that Mr. Pezeshkian, for example, as the president [00:09:25] of that country, has trouble delivering his message through [00:09:28] national television to the people [00:09:31] is an example of how deep [00:09:35] these behind-the-scenes conflicts truly are, and that factional [00:09:38] conflicts in the Islamic Republic have been serious and should perhaps be taken [00:09:42] more seriously in the future. Thank you very much, [00:09:54] Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, privately told [00:09:58] senior advisors to Donald Trump that the US must find a way to [00:10:02] exit the war with Iran, because existing military options [00:10:06] for escalating the conflict could have adverse [00:10:09] consequences. According to him, it is unlikely that solely relying on [00:10:13] air power will achieve Mr. Trump's stated [00:10:16] goals. General Dunford also shared his concerns with other key [00:10:20] cabinet officials, including the Director of the CIA, the Secretary of State, [00:10:24] and the Vice President. Our reporter, [00:10:27] Sheida Hooshmandi, from Washington, is with us. [00:10:31] Sheida, what exactly are the concerns [00:10:34] that General Kin is raising? The main [00:10:37] and important concern that Mr. Kin raises [00:10:40] is that this superior air power [00:10:44] that America has can be limited in such a [00:10:47] way that the strategic [00:10:51] goals that Mr. Trump's administration set [00:10:55] politically do not necessarily lead [00:10:59] to their achievement. The point of Mr. Kin and some [00:11:02] of Mr. Trump's advisors, both inside and [00:11:05] outside the government, is that if they really want to [00:11:09] achieve the political goals they want to [00:11:12] achieve, they must conduct a large-scale military operation [00:11:16] on the ground, boots on the ground, in [00:11:19] order to achieve those goals. Otherwise, [00:11:22] by escalating air attacks, what will [00:11:26] happen is actually the continuation of this [00:11:30] war and its attrition. [00:11:33] And of course, these statements that CNN quotes [00:11:36] from informed sources are statements that General [00:11:39] Dunford has made before in Congress. Just a few weeks [00:11:43] ago, he said that these air [00:11:46] attacks are limited in power unless you combine them [00:11:50] with diplomatic [00:11:53] tools, economic tools, and that's where America [00:11:56] can have the upper hand. CNN writes that [00:11:59] General Kin and a number of people [00:12:03] within the government are looking for an escape route that might present [00:12:07] a symbolic victory for Mr. Trump [00:12:11] and end this war. Another issue that [00:12:14] is raised, and another concern that is raised, is the [00:12:18] attrition of ammunition reserves for [00:12:21] America, and this concern has also [00:12:25] been raised by Mr. Kin. The issue is not that [00:12:29] America lacks military power to continue this [00:12:32] war with Iran. The issue is that the attrition of these [00:12:35] ammunition reserves could strategically [00:12:38] create problems for America if another war [00:12:42] breaks out. Sheida, you talked a [00:12:45] lot about this problem of the shortage and attrition of [00:12:48] US military reserves. We have heard a lot about this in the [00:12:52] past few days. How decisive can this problem [00:12:55] be in a war with [00:12:56] Iran? [00:12:59] As I said, regarding the war with Iran, [00:13:02] it cannot necessarily turn the tide, [00:13:06] but if in the meantime, that is, if this war [00:13:09] becomes attritional and continues, and in [00:13:13] Asia, in Taiwan, a war breaks out [00:13:16] and then America enters a full-scale and widespread war with [00:13:20] China, then really, in fact, [00:13:23] this reduction of advanced [00:13:27] US ammunition can have a significant impact [00:13:30] on America's military power and superiority. The reason for this [00:13:34] is that these are very advanced ammunition and weapons that are used [00:13:38] in important defense systems, such as THAAD, [00:13:41] and if they want to replace them, [00:13:45] it is estimated that it will take between 2 and [00:13:49] 4 years. The issue is time. America also [00:13:52] has the economic capacity to do this, and it [00:13:56] also has other [00:13:59] alternatives, but the issue is that it does not [00:14:03] have the time. If another incident happens, then [00:14:06] it will face a very major [00:14:10] problem. They say, in a "vulnerability window," [00:14:14] in a period of vulnerability, America places itself, and [00:14:17] this discussion is actually about [00:14:20] political science books that say [00:14:24] essentially America has spread its military forces all over [00:14:28] the world [00:14:30] so much [00:14:32] that perhaps entering a full-scale and [00:14:36] widespread war could be very problematic for it. And [00:14:39] now that with Iran, its ammunition [00:14:42] reserves are entering a phase of attrition, [00:14:45] this itself can greatly affect America's [00:14:49] military power and superiority, whether against North Korea, [00:14:51] Russia, or China. [00:15:01] important news headlines in this program. We want to fight, [00:15:05] the same thing Israel wants. But when it [00:15:08] wants, we can get our rights. Why are we [00:15:11] continuing, for example? Peseshkian [00:15:13] has defended negotiations to reach a desired [00:15:17] agreement, but Tehran says the reopening of the [00:15:21] Strait of Hormuz depends on the acceptance of its conditions by the Chairman of the US Joint [00:15:29] Chiefs of Staff, who has asked Trump's advisors to find [00:15:32] a way out of the war with Iran. [00:15:36] In the continuation of this program: [00:15:38] Environmental concerns regarding the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz. [00:15:42] The accumulation of invasive aquatic species on ships threatens the marine [00:15:46] ecosystem. [00:15:46] At least two civilians were [00:15:50] killed in a Houthi attack on the city of Marib in Yemen. [00:15:53] The Houthis announced that they targeted military installations [00:15:57] and forces supported by Saudi Arabia. [00:16:00] According to a Yemeni military official, eight soldiers of the legitimate [00:16:04] Yemeni government were also killed in this attack. Yesterday, [00:16:08] the Houthis also killed a number of Yemeni government [00:16:11] soldiers in the provinces of Marib and Hadhramaut. The Houthis control [00:16:15] Sana'a, the capital of Yemen, also in western Marib. [00:16:19] Ali Saadzadeh, an expert on [00:16:22] Middle East affairs from Frankfurt, Germany, is with us. Mr. [00:16:25] Saadzadeh, it seems that after several [00:16:28] years, about for example, a situation of [00:16:31] neither war nor peace, Yemen is now reaching a point where civil [00:16:35] war could [00:16:38] lead to a crisis. Here, Iran is also involved. [00:16:42] is. That is completely true, [00:16:45] and in practice, the civil war has started again, [00:16:49] meaning with the intensity that started last Thursday, [00:16:53] as you said, in three provinces, [00:16:56] Marib and Jawf. As for why it started, [00:17:00] the statements are contradictory. [00:17:01] The official [00:17:04] government of Yemen says [00:17:08] that it wanted to intercept [00:17:12] arms and drug smuggling on a route coming [00:17:16] from Oman. For this reason, [00:17:19] and it succeeded in intercepting an arms [00:17:22] smuggling convoy. And [00:17:26] the Houthis attacked it with [00:17:29] both rockets and drones. [00:17:33] And practically from that time until now, that is, from last [00:17:37] Thursday until now, the clashes have continued, and today, as you said, [00:17:41] two more people were killed. But the problem is [00:17:44] that it will not remain in Yemen, because [00:17:48] immediately the Houthis also, in addition to [00:17:50] attacking government forces and killing 50 people according [00:17:54] to some statistics, also attacked [00:17:58] Saudi Arabia and we also had [00:18:01] casualties there, and Saudi Arabia itself [00:18:04] this. This is why some [00:18:21] sources say that Saudi Arabia feels a special sense of insecurity from the Houthis in Yemen, and from the Houthis and Hashd al-Shaabi. The joint force from Iraq, [00:18:25] because the Houthis have a center in Iraq, [00:18:28] their office is in a very large office in the Green [00:18:31] Zone of Iraq. And [00:18:35] from there, their relationship with both the Hashd [00:18:37] al-Shaabi groups and the Iranian Revolutionary [00:18:41] Guard takes place. [00:18:44] And even the last attack that occurred [00:18:48] reportedly originated [00:18:51] from Iraqi territory. [00:18:54] Saudi Arabia between Pakistan [00:18:58] and Turkey and Saudi Arabia [00:19:01] is in fact a response [00:19:04] or a shield for this [00:19:28] insecurity that Saudi Arabia feels. Mr. Saadzadeh, how [00:19:31] much has the military balance changed compared to previous [00:19:34] years? Have the Houthis' military capabilities, [00:19:37] now that Iran supports them, increased? [00:19:41] Their capabilities have increased a bit, [00:19:45] and it seems that more weapons are reaching them. [00:19:48] And also, [00:19:52] they have gained a strategic [00:19:56] advantage, meaning they can [00:19:59] jeopardize the movement of ships [00:20:02] in the Red Sea. Just [00:20:05] the day before yesterday, a [00:20:08] Saudi ship [00:20:11] was attacked and even sank. [00:20:15] And the Saudis also feel [00:20:18] insecure about this, that their oil [00:20:21] exports through the Red Sea might be cut off, [00:20:24] because you know that after Saudi Arabia [00:20:28] could no longer export oil through the Strait of Hormuz, [00:20:32] it exported most of its oil through [00:20:35] the oil pipeline that [00:20:38] reaches the Red Sea coast. [00:20:41] And if the Houthis continue their attacks, [00:20:44] that will also be cut off. That is, this is also [00:20:47] a kind of economic [00:20:50] insecurity for Saudi Arabia. [00:20:53] Thank you very much, Ali [00:21:08] Todd Blanche, former attorney for the President of this [00:21:11] country, as Attorney General. [00:21:15] Mr. Blanche, who has been serving as acting Attorney [00:21:19] General for four months, received 50 affirmative [00:21:22] votes against 49 dissenting votes. This vote took place [00:21:25] after weeks of uncertainty and several Republican [00:21:29] senators retracting their opposition to him. [00:21:32] Republicans form the majority in the Senate. [00:21:36] Democrats say they are concerned about further undermining the [00:21:39] independence of the Justice Department by Donald [00:21:43] Trump. In the continuation of Russian [00:21:46] airstrikes on Ukraine, three people. FIFA [00:22:35] said [00:22:35] that [00:22:42] this action was in accordance with the regulations at that [00:22:45] time. FIFA and UEFA are at odds over the plan to sideline [00:22:49] Gianni Infantino for selling shares of World Cup [00:22:52] competitions and other [00:22:54] tournaments. [00:22:57] Reza Valizadeh, a former Radio Farda reporter, in a call [00:23:00] from inside prison, reported unfavorable health and sanitary [00:23:04] conditions in Evin. In an audio file that CBS released of this [00:23:08] dual citizen, he says that in the past five months, he has not been [00:23:11] allowed to visit his family. Mr. [00:23:15] Valizadeh, who has been imprisoned for about two years, expressed [00:23:19] concern about contracting tuberculosis due to the lack [00:23:23] of medical care. This journalist, after [00:23:26] 15 years of residency in France and the Czech Republic, [00:23:30] returned to Iran in the winter of 2023. Seven months [00:23:34] later, he was arrested and sentenced to 10 [00:23:37] years in prison. [00:23:40] Scientists and researchers report a major environmental [00:23:44] threat that, with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, [00:23:47] threatens the ecosystem of the Persian Gulf, the Sea [00:23:51] of Oman, and other parts of the world. According to them, the hull of any [00:23:55] ship that remains motionless in the water accumulates invasive aquatic species that are [00:23:58] not only difficult to clean, but also destroy other [00:24:02] marine species and cause significant damage to the ship [00:24:14] over control of the Strait of Hormuz, a common [00:24:17] and silent enemy is being created beneath these [00:24:21] waters. The continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz [00:24:24] means the stagnation and motionless presence of hundreds of ships [00:24:28] in the region's waters, and this is a breeding [00:24:31] ground for invasive species that cling to [00:24:34] ship hulls. In the shipping industry, these organisms are known [00:24:38] as fouling species or biofoulers. [00:24:41] They are a costly nuisance for shipping, both commercial, [00:24:45] recreational, and military. The journal [00:24:49] Biological Invasions, in its research, described this [00:24:52] issue as a massive threat to global [00:24:56] biosecurity. Where is the problem? Biofoulers [00:24:59] are not just harmless and innocent species that [00:25:03] can be easily removed from a ship's hull. When [00:25:07] they settle on the surface of a ship, [00:25:10] they will multiply rapidly, [00:25:14] and turn each ship into a carrier of various [00:25:18] microbes and bacteria that can destroy [00:25:22] the native species of each region. When these [00:25:24] invasive species themselves, such as black mussels, [00:25:28] microscopic algae, and sea squirts, are separated [00:25:31] from the ship's hull, they quickly [00:25:34] crowd out other species in the ecosystem. [00:25:37] With the long-term stagnation of ships in the [00:25:41] Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, the first danger affects [00:25:44] the ecosystem of these waters. And when these ships [00:25:47] travel to other parts of the world, they bring the same [00:25:51] disaster to other ecosystems. But this is not [00:25:55] just an environmental issue. The shipping [00:25:58] industry spends $30 to $50 billion annually [00:26:01] to combat marine biofoulers. [00:26:04] These invasive species not only damage [00:26:08] ship engines, but also cause ships to consume [00:26:11] up to 40% more fuel to [00:26:14] move, and increased fuel consumption means [00:26:18] more water and atmospheric pollution and more [00:26:21] greenhouse gas accumulation. Other costs [00:26:24] are related to cleaning the surface of ship hulls. [00:26:28] This cleaning requires toxic biocides. The goal [00:26:32] is to prevent these toxins, along with ship paint, from entering [00:26:36] the water during cleaning. In the [00:26:39] Persian Gulf, like many other ports around the world, [00:26:43] these wastes are not collected. [00:26:46] Perhaps with new agreements between the warring countries, ships [00:26:49] will soon be moving. But the consequences of [00:26:53] their immobility have not been without cost. It is [00:26:56] planned that a portion of the tolls that Iran and Oman seek to collect from shipping [00:27:00] will be allocated [00:27:03] to addressing environmental [00:27:12] the US regarding the Strait of Hormuz can also be found [00:27:16] on our website and social media channels. A special [00:27:19] page has been dedicated to this topic on our [00:27:23] website, which is also updated regularly. Among other things, [00:27:27] you can read about the Iranian Foreign Minister's statements [00:27:31] that negotiations are nearing completion, but an understanding [00:27:34] with Muscat does not mean the opening [00:29:34] their phones are disposable, and they remain hidden from [00:29:38] view, not to escape the law, but to expose [00:29:41] lawbreakers. They are journalists [00:29:45] from the BBC World Service, and this [00:29:48] is the Global Eye program on BBC [00:29:51] Persian. A narrative of nearly 6 years of imprisonment [00:29:54] and interrogation in Evin. Six or seven officers and [00:29:57] interrogators who were all shouting. [00:30:01] and then they showed me a video on a tablet. [00:30:04] I saw Dr. Seyyedmi lying on a metal [00:30:08] thing. Right there, they told me, "If you don't cooperate [00:30:12] with us, the same thing will happen to you." The ambiguous [00:30:15] environmental case in the book Green Parrots by Morad [00:30:19] Tahbaz. [00:30:21] And now on BBC [00:30:27] Persian Television.