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a raymond james financial advisor get to know you, your passions, and the way you bring people together. life well planned. brett: you know as someone coming out of college it can be very nerve-racking not knowing what to expect, whether you'll like your job or not, whether you'll make friends, whether you'll fit in, and here i feel like it's so welcoming and such an inclusive place to work, you just feel like you're valued. narrator: funding was also provided by, the freeman foundation, the judy and peter blum kovler foundation, upholding freedom by strengthening democracies at home and abroad. announcer: and now, bbc news. ben: hello, i'm ben browd this is the context here on bbc news. pres. trump: i may do it. i may not do it. nobody knows what i'm going to

do. i can tell you this, iran is in a little trouble, because they want to negotiate. why did they negotiate with me before? pm netanyahu: i want to thank president trump for standing by us and for the support of the united states offers us in defending israel's skies. >> the damage america will suffer if it makes a military intervention will undoubtedly be irreparable. >> using the u.s. military to intervene in the middle east is pretty much exactly what donald trump said he does not want to do with this in the white house, -- this term in the white house, but he has turned more and more hawkish over time. ♪ ben: "i may do it, i may not do it," the words of president trump as he keeps the world guessing about whether or not

the u.s. will join israel in its attack on iran. meanwhile, israel and iran continue to exchange fire on the sixth day of the conflict between the two states. the israeli defense forces, the idf, say they have destroyed iran's internal security headquarters. the roads out of tehran are clogged with traffic as thousands of civilians try to flee the capital. but iran's supreme leader has warned president trump of "irreparable harm" if united states does join israel in its attacks. here's our north america editor sarah smith. sarah: under the constant barrage of missiles, israel's iron dome cannot disrupt them all. u.s. intelligence tells of the incoming rockets. that's the only known american

involve -- involvement so far. while at the white house, donald trump seems fixated by the direction of his new flagpole as he was asked about his intentions in the middle east. pres. trump: will you strike the iranian nuclear component, and what i'm exactly, sir? will you please inform us so you could be there and watch. you don't even know that i'm going to do it. i may do it, i may not do it. nobody knows what i'm going to do. sarah: he is clear, he will not allow iran to develop a nuclear weapon and is demanding an unconditional surrender. pres. trump: they have bad intentions. for 40 years, they said death to america, death to israel, death to anyone else they don't like. they were bullies, they were schoolyard bullies, and now they are not bullies anymore, but we will see what happens.

sarah: iran's supreme leader appeared on tv with a defiant message and threats of retaliation if america gets involved. >> what will suffer in this regard is much greater than what iran will suffer. the damage america will suffer if it makes a military intervention in this field will undoubtedly be irreparable. sarah: in tehran, the continuing israeli assault is punishing but will not eradicate iran's nuclear program with bigger, more destructive american bombings. they could still negotiate an end to this conflict if they get rid of all nuclear developments. donald trump says iran has reached out, asking for talks in washington. that provoked a swift response. no iranian official has ever asked to grovel at the gates of the white house. iran does not negotiate under duress, shall not accept peace under duress, and certainly not with a has warmonger clinging to relevance. serious concern in congress about possible american military

intervention means lawmakers on both sides are trying to insist on having a vote before any possible attack. >> how many people live in iran, by the way? >> i don't know the population. >> at all? sarah: deep splits among president trump's most hawkish supporters, including a right wing tv host. >> who left the country -- >> you don't know anything about the country. sarah: donald trump won election, promising to keep america out of foreign wars, to keep america first. he they conclude it is in america's best interest to stop iran from having nuclear weapons. sarah smith, bbc news, washington. ben: meanwhile, israeli jets have managed to hit targets across iran, including the capital tehran, where thousands of people are still trying to flee. there's also reports of an almost complete internet blackout in iran. the country's ministry of communications says the restrictions are to stop israel

threatening lives and property. while the bbc is not allowed to broadcast from inside iran itself, but colleagues are following the situation. here is one. >> explosions light of the sky over eastern tehran. israeli fighter jets continue pounding the iranian capital. this is the western part of the city, filmed shortly after israel issued an evacuation order. despite the heavy bombardment, many residents have chosen to stay, defying donald trump's call for massive evacuation. tehran is a home to 90 people and the entire f population of - tehran is home to 90,000 people. >> when we get killed?

>> those who stayed behind are now facing this. just hours ago, another massive explosion in the eastern part of the capital and in the capital, too. >> nord is the public care about us. >> bustling tehran is now it really quiet. cash machines are running out of money. many shops are closed. fuel is rationed. it's causing massive queues. she sings, we have endured pain through the ages so that iran becomes a shining gem. ben: now, live on bbc news, we can get the perspective of the iranian authorities, because

joining us life is iran's investor and permanent representative to the united nations in geneva, allie lorraine a. thank you very much indeed for joining us on bbc news. can i ask you, first of all, if president trump and the united states due to five to attack iran, how plo will iran respond? amb. bahreini: we believe from the beginning, it has been from the united states, now the united states is conflicted. but we will react in accordance with our system. definitely if united states is going to evolve its aggression

against iran, iran will respond. iran will show no hesitation, no reluctance, in defending the people, and defending our conscience, and in defending the humanity. it's a national law to defend humanity. and there is a headline for the united states. israel who said come across that line, we will respond in kind. ben: you talk about a response, but i mean, your military has been devastated by these israeli attacks. your air force has been destroyed. your air defenses have been destroyed. you're running out of missiles. so mil militarily, how could

you respond to the united states, which is a supreme military superpower in the world? amb. bahreini: if you follow nowadays, today, yesterday, the day before yesterday, you can realize that iranian forces are responding very efficiently. it is not sufficient for israel to stop the censorship in the land, so that the people can transition and can see what has happened to israel, by other military foxes. -- forces. our military forces have prepared. our military forces have been prepared for quite a situation. therefore, our military forces have responded, having continue

to respond very efficiently, as is needed, and we make sure our land is secure, our mission is a secure. ben: what about the possibility of negotiating a way out of this? president trump has said that iranian officials have asked to come to the white house to talk. what about that? would iran be prepared to talk to the united states, maybe even go to the white house to talk? amb. bahreini: i think it will not be appropriate to speak about anything rather than peace and stability in our country. now the first priority for us is to defend ourselves. i think it should be a topic at this time to talk about it, the first being which are the people

, and to punish israel. that is something we are focused on. ben: this is all about iran trying to build a nuclear bomb. that's what israel says. are you trying to build a nuclear bomb? yes or no. amb. bahreini: no. ben: but the international atomic agency, you will know this, they said just a few days ago that you are in breach of your nonproliferation obligations. amb. bahreini: iaea had not said such a thing. if you follow the statements made by iaea yesterday, they tell you plainly there is no evidence that iran is

administering a program or activity. this will support the evidence and show that iran is only having peaceful programs, nuclear program, and there is no evidence that iran is starting a military nuclear program. and i think there is the criteria to verify that. to explain for everybody that what iran is doing. our abilities which have -- our facilities, which have unfortunately been attacked, this is the new red line crossed by israel, by attacking our nuclear facilities. is there any new red line that is radio will cross -- that israel will cross?

unfortunately, the answer has always been yes could israel has become an exception, an exception to the threat of national law. everyone has to accept national law. ben: when you talk about respecting international law, i ran spoke with hamas, which attacked israel on october 7, we know that, with deadly consequences. iran sponsored lebanon, iran sponsors the houthis, and you said death to israel, death to the united states year after year. amb. bahreini: hezbollah, they are fighting for their land, fighting for the freedom of their land, and hamas is fighting to keep their nation.

it is their right to fight for that, and it is our responsibility to support them, in order to end the occupation. israel and the supporters should maybe end the population. occupation. israel is a criminal, is responsible for insecurity in other regions, is an absolute in the regions, and it should be stopped from coming in and trying again and again. ben: do you understand, though, why israel is not want you to have a nuclear bomb, when you say time and again, "death to israel," when you sponsor hamas and its israel? and the evidence shows that iran has enriched uranium to 60%, not

far off of the 90% that is needed for a nuclear bomb. do you understand those concerns? amb. bahreini: whenever there has been announcement about a new nuclear activity and iran, there have been other priorities. to claim that these activities are necessary for our economy. it's not a logical and peaceful purpose. but our nuclear activity, iran has conducted, has been in line with the welfare of our people. and the fact is that you cannot rely on others to be provided with our technology. the recent history has shown us that we should not rely on anybody. the behavior of the aggressors,

the supporters of israel, showed us during the war imposed by them against us that they are behaving according to crime. they are providing health equipment and medicine to other countries. we have learned to be independent, to rely on ourselves, and therefore our nuclear activities, peaceful nuclear activities, fall in line with our economy. ben: you say that you are defending the people of iran. the people of iran hate your government, don't they? many, many hundreds of thousands of ordinary iranians absolutely despise your government. if they fear your government. but they have been out on the streets. two years ago, we saw mass protests against your government

after the arrest and the death of martha and mimi for not properly covering her head with a headscarf. amb. bahreini: if you follow in our country, you can observe the solidarity shown by our people nowadays. even those who do not like the policies of our government, iranians, they are approaching to us and telling us that they are ready to approach the government, they are doing everything to support and defend our country. ben: if all of that is true -- amb. bahreini: the unity shown by our people at this moment is anticipated and is very strong. ben: if all of that is true, why don't you let journalists, independent journalists, like the bbc and other organized organizations, come to iran and see that for themselves? amb. bahreini: iran is a

society, you talked about journalists, attacks made by israel against our national broadcasting headquarters the day before yesterday. at our headquarters, they killed three iranian journalists, and that is a big violation of freedom of expression by israel and supported by you. ben: ali bahreini, we are out of time. thank you for joining us. that is iran's ambassador and permanent representative to the united nations in geneva. thank you for being with us on bbc news. amb. bahreini: thank you for having me. ben: stay with us here on bbc news. we will have much more analysis of what we were just hearing their unknown -- and on the wider situation of the conflict between iran and israel with our correspondent, lyse

doucet. around the world and across the u.k., this is bbc news. ♪

w we were just hearing from the iranian ambassador to the united nations in geneva, so let's dissect and discuss exactly what he was saying where iran is now in this conflict with israel with blisters that come our chief international correspondent. what do you make of what the ambassador was saying? -- with lyse doucet, our chief international correspondent. what do you make of what the investor was saying? lyse: it is that we are not going to give income a not going to give up, capitulation is not part of our playbook. and we keep hearing about a redline that israel has cost. -- crossed. this ambassador was talking about attacks on nuclear

facilities, attacks on iran itself. that is in the face of what all observers are saying, what we are seeing on the ground, that they are basically exposed, they lost a lot of their air defenses, they lost some last year and an exchange between israel and iran. israel and the united states, president trump, are now saying we are controlling the skies above iran. and those threats from president trump, that he is not just saber rattling, that he means it. he could possibly go in. yet they are resolute, some would say foolhardy, but that is the nature of this regime, until they are pushed, really push, and it sounds as though despite all the pressure, they are not, they are going to keep fighting. the big question is, why do they still have to fight with? ben: they are going to keep fighting, but what about the possibility? i asked about the possibility of talks, negotiations, donald trump had talked about that, maybe that they had approached the white house and said we would like to come and talk, we are here come of us iranian officials may be thinking about

talking about jd vance. is there a possibility, do you think, room for maneuver on negotiations? lyse: their line always was that we are not going to negotiate under pressure, and that is before this hot war started, the idea that when you inflict stringent sanctions on us, we will not talk. but of course, they did begin negotiations under those sanctions, that were crippling their economy and have been for many years. now they say, we will not talk under fire. will that change? it's been such a fast-moving situation with all the dangers, whether accidental or delivery, calculation or miscalculation, we just don't know appeared we don't know the thinking inside the foreign ministry. we also heard from the foreign minister we never give up on diplomacy. if there was a way that they would not lose faith, i think they would like to go back to the negotiating table kid i was in oslo last week,

where many iranians were, talking about a deal was within reach. and then they pointed out after president trump's 60-day deadline, which was unrealistic, on the 61st day, israel attacks. iran says this was just a ploy, a subterfuge, so that they would be caught wrongfooted, and they were. ben: but having said that, surely, as i said to the investor, they must see their military being eroded. they are running out of missiles, their in offenses are shattered, the air force is pretty much nonexistent now. they would like to have a deal before it is too late. lyse: this is where you have different views on the world. we just don't know how they are viewing this. the message from israel, which has now resumed economic activity, is that there are fewer missile strikes from iran, and the ones that do arrive are being intercepted. but the best part is

psychological warfare. we don't know. there was another barrage tonight. most of them worry intercepted. what do they have in their arsenal we don't know about? at the start of all of this, the assessment in israel was iran sort of still had 2000 ballistic missiles, and working with china, it had been able to produce them at a rate of about 50 a month, but israel has been hitting so much, day by day, hitting production sites, hitting the missiles themselves, and these shocking stories than that the penetration, where they even had a drone factory. they were in pickups transporting the drones and the firing them from within. what other tricks, for both sides, this confrontation has been years in the making. in iran's case, they wanted to avoid it but knew it was always possible. in israel's case, prime minister netanyahu has been thinking of it, plotting for this, hoping for this, arguing for this for

decades. so you just don't know what lies ahead, and that perhaps is the most dangerous of all. ben: just in a few seconds, israel must be pretty pleased, netanyahu must be pretty pleased with how it is going. lyse: certainly diplomatically, the fact that his european allies have not condemned these attacks come even though attacks on nuclear facilities -- he said most of his european allies are saying, you have a right to defend yourself. ben: lyse, thank you so much, lyse doucet, our chief international correspondent, with her assessment of where we are on the sixth day of the conflict between iran and israel. you are watchin announcer: funding for presentation of this program is provided by... financial services firm, raymond james. funding was also provided by, the freeman foundation, the judy and peter blum kovler foundation,

upholding freedom by strengthening democracies at home and abroad. ♪ ♪ -bbc journalists here in ukraine. -across southern israel. -here in michigan. -beirut. -china. -italy. -russia. -paris. narrator: wherever news breaks, we're there. news anchor: live from washington, this is "bbc news." announcer: get the free pbs app now and stream the best of pbs.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ announcer: funding for presentation of this program is provided by... woman: a successful business owner sells his company and restores his father's historic jazz club with his son.