Tehran – Sejed Rahim Batei has long been eyes and ears CBS News Iran. For 16 years, he helped us to introduce our audience with ordinary Iranians who share their hopes and fears.
Throughout these years, Iranian society has been divided between those who hotly supports the theocratic leaders of the Islamic Republic and those who do not. But after 12 days of the devastating war with Israel, CBS News saw the level of national unity, which was not before.
“Iran is an ancient country with ancient civilization, more than 5,000 years of history. They want to preserve it,” explains BATE, Iranians. “They say, 'We are a nation. We have a national identity. Do not break – do not even try to break – or do not insult our honor and this deep civilization. “
For BATE, a military collision between the archives of the Middle East was felt inevitable for a certain time.
“I was waiting for it,” he says. “Iran has this strong belf to support palestinians and the palestinian cause, and has not been shy to project it quite openly. So, it is some point – No One Knew Iran and Israel Would Go On A Direct War, Direct Murder, secret operationsand on the Iranian side fighting against Israel through what is called in our time Iranian Proxy -Group. So, at some point, it was inevitable that both countries would come to this boil. “
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Israel, backed up by its close ally, may well have a military ability to knock down the government, led by Ayatalai Ali Khamenei. But Batey says such a step – what President Trump claims to be personally prevented Within 12 days of fighting – there would be serious consequences outside Iran.
“It would be a catastrophe. We have already seen what happened in Libya, what happened to Syria. Iraq is actually a great example for us. This is a disaster for the region,” he says. “There will be an unsuccessful state that may come out terrorism.”
Such a threat may no longer feel inevitable, and the Trump ceasefire, which was engaged in Iran and Israel, was carried out for almost a week, but BATE – fully based on the intestinal feelings that come with more than 35 years as a journalist in Iran – still fighting for finding optimism.
“I think we are going to darker things,” he says. “I'm not guessing, but my instinct tells me, yes we go to darker things. But I very much hope I'm wrong.”
One was surprised by BATE during the War with Israel: President Trump ordered us military aircraft to join the bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities.
“President Trump was full of surprises,” he says. “I didn't think he could go so far.”
“I do not think that the Iranian leadership was ready or believed that the US could attack Iran at this level,” Batei adds.
He is now experiencing that the US can attack Iran again.
The decision suggests BATEY, designed for both parties To sit down and talk.
“They don't talk to each other. When they sit down and start talking or even visit each other – I mean, Iranian politicians go and visit US, US politicians who come here and visit Iran – I believe that most of this misunderstanding may be eliminated. impossible. “”
This is a desire for peace that many people of CBS News, who spoke in Iran, all hoped that the leaders in Tehran, Tel -Aviv and Washington have heard.
He contributed to this report.