Recent China Media Group (CMG) vox pop interviews with Iranian residents reveal a widespread distrust of the effectiveness of negotiations with the United States in restoring peace to the Middle East.
In the southern province of Hormozgan, shattered families continue to pick up the pieces of their lives following the devastating U.S. strike on Shajarah Tayyebeh Elementary School in Minab on February 28. The attack, which killed more than 160 people, most of them children, marked the start of open hostilities between the United States, Israel and Iran.
In CMG vox pop interviews conducted from Wednesday to Friday, a mother who lost her daughter to the strikes denounced the United States and Israel for committing "unforgivable crimes against innocents".
"My daughter was a provincial gymnastics champion and was selected for the national team. She lived a life full of dreams and hopes. But Israel and the United States have robbed our children of the chance to realize those dreams. We are heartbroken. A country that claims to respect human rights has now exposed its crimes to the whole world, and all of this began with a war against children," said Marziyeh Haidari, the mother.
Regarding the stalled Iran-U.S. talks, many Iranian interviewees said they have witnessed repeated betrayals on the U.S. side over the past negotiations, thus the country is untrustworthy. They believe the country's real goal is to force Iran into submission, whether through military action or economic sanctions.
"Regarding the talks, I don't think there will be any progress. Not the slightest progress. I don't see any chance of success in these talks, because the U.S. only aim is to force Iran to surrender and Iran will never surrender under any circumstances," said Salehi, a local resident.
"People have seen what the United States is like in the Middle East. For countries in the region, especially the Arab nations, the United States has brought no security to any country. For the U.S., in order to protect its own interests, no people, country or official in the region matter at all," said Mohammad Reza, another local resident.
Iranians express distrust over U.S. peace deal
