Iranians left disappointed but defiant after negotiation failure

Tehran: Iranians reacted with both disappointment and defiance after peace talks with the US faltered. Standing outside a newsstand in Tehran, Farhad Simia told AP he had hoped for successful negotiations and an end to the war, but stood with Iran despite the failure of the talks. “I’m against the war. Negotiation is the better path,” Simia, 43, said, blaming “inappropriate demands” by the US.

Mehdi Hosseini, 43, agreed: “Considering the advantage Iran seemed to have on the battlefield, a real concern was we might lose all those gains in the negotiations. “Whether the talks succeed or not is one thing, but the fact the delegates managed to preserve what Iran achieved in the war, while refusing to back down and surrender, gives reason for hope.” 

The streets of Tehran were lined up with large Iranian flags and giant billboards glorifying the country’s leaders and military achievements. One large illustration depicted Iranian men in uniform lifting a fishing net out of the sea with a catch of miniature-sized US military aircraft and warships. “The Strait Remains Closed,” the billboard read. Hamid Haghi, 55, said “America’s overreach” was the reason for the failure. The US wants “to come to the Strait of Hormuz, which is a legacy from our fathers,” he said. “We can oversee (it) ourselves.”