Name: Iranians fear 'dirty deal' between the US and Iran's Regime | DW News
Uploaded: 2026-02-18T17:17:30.000Z
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Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards stage naval drills.

A message to Washington as the US builds up its military presence in the region.

The USS Abraham Lincoln has been spotted off the coast of Oman.

Another aircraft carrier strike group is on the way to the Middle East.

The build up prompting a warning from Iran's Supreme Leader.

They keep saying we have sent warships towards Iran.

Okay, of course a warship is a dangerous device, but

more dangerous than that is a weapon that can send the warship deep under the sea.

Both sides flexing military muscle as a second round of nuclear talks took place in Geneva.

Washington wants Iran to make a deal to limit its nuclear program or risk facing more U.S. attacks.

Tehran says it won't make concessions without relief from crippling sanctions.

Iran's foreign minister said the negotiations had made good progress.

we now have a clear picture of what needs to be done and what steps should follow.

Of course, both sides still hold positions that will take time to narrow, but

at least now we have a set of guiding principles and a clearer path to move forward on.

The threat of US military action has left ordinary Iranians on edge.

Given that Iran is isolated from the rest of the world, I think it would be much better if there's no conflict.

Many here also have mixed feelings about the US making a deal with their country's theocratic leadership after it carried out a vicious crackdown on nationwide anti regime protests.

I think it's fair to assess that there is a clear majority in Iran who do not want to see any kind of dirty deal that would cement the reign of the Islamic Republic of the regime in Iran to the detriment of Iranian people, instance via sanctions relief that the rulers in Tehran, as they did in the past, would primarily use for their own purposes of regime stability and the projection of regime strength in the region.

And anger with the Islamic Republic still visible.

Even after the crackdown that killed thousands on Tuesday, protesters returned to the streets to demand regime change.

And those no new protests we're seeing in Iran are marking 40 days, the traditional period of mourning for Muslims since the deadly crackdown against anti regime protests in January.

Communication with people inside the Islamic Republic remains difficult.

But videos circulating on social media show large gatherings like this one at a cemetery in Abdanan, a city in western Iran where people are holding a memorial ceremony and shouting anti regime slogans like Death to Khamenei.

Other videos recorded in the same location show security forces in armored Vehicles opening fire.

Verification of these pictures is difficult, but

the news agency Reuters says the topography and layouts match satellite images.

Well, for more on this, let's bring in Sarah Bazubandi on the line.

She's a non resident research fellow at the Institute for Security Politics at Kiel University here in Germany.

Sarah, how do Iranians view these talks taking place now in Geneva?

Well, for the a segment of the society that are very unsympathetic and to increasing degree getting angry and more frustrated with the regime, especially since the latest crackdown and the mass killing of the Iranian protesters, they don't view these negotiations very favorably because in the eyes of those elements of the society, these are only going to sustain the rule of the Islamic Republic, which is what they not really wish for.

They have been calling for the downfall of this regime and basically they wanted to show to the regime and outside world that the regime has no legitimacy.

But these diplomatic tracks are a strong signal of return of legitimacy of the Islamic Republic.

There are signs now of fresh protests in Iran.

If these protests develop further, could they influence negotiations between Iran and the US and depending on the regime's response, could the protests perhaps make military interference more likely?

Well, President Trump at the beginning of this episode loud and clear, stated that help is on its way.

And initially the US Administration mentioned at least on few occasions, that the violation of human rights and treatment of the protesters are one of the pillars of these negotiations.

Now, whether it's still the case or not, we really don't know.

But I think the crackdown, this recent crackdown in parallel with negotiations with the United States has a, is a very strong signal that the state is trying to send to the citizens to in a sense, detach Iranian protesters from the United States and to signal that regardless of the initial claims of the United States, they are sitting down with us, they are negotiating with us and on the very same day we open fire on you.

So don't keep your hopes on the United States and its help because ultimately they are interested in cutting a deal with us.

I think this is the clearest signal that they are trying to and to the people.

Well, Iranians are marking the 40 day mourning period for those killed in the recent uprising.

Such mourning periods in Iran have played quite a significant role in the country's history, haven't they, Sarah?

Traditionally this, you know, 40 days, 40th day of the mourning is an important day and it's, it seems that the regime has been prepared for another round of crackdown and they not only just sent security forces to the street as a show of power, but

also, as your report mentioned, they opened fire on protesters inside a cemetery in the city of Abdonin, as you mentioned, and

there are several other parts of the country that the crackdown continued.

They're raiding people's mourning after losing loved ones, after killing their loved ones.

And this is basically just the biggest insult to the dignity of Iranian citizen, Iranian protesters.

I think the regime is choosing this strategy, choosing this signal again to reinstate its power and to reinstate its control.

Sarah, thank you very much for talking with us today.

That was Sarah Basubandi, a fellow at Keele University here in in Germany.