What Iran Is Demanding Behind Closed Doors & Russia Bombards Kyiv

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**Mike Baker** (0:42)
It's Wednesday, the 3rd of June. Welcome to The Presidents Daily Brief. I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage. All right, let's get briefed. First up, the US-Iran talks continue, supposedly, perhaps, but Tehran's demands offer a revealing glimpse into how Iran believes the war ended and what it expects to gain from any agreement for a peace deal.
Later in the show, Moscow makes good on its threats, launching a major barrage against Kiev and other Ukrainian cities in an attack that left at least 22 people dead. Later in the show, authorities uncover a massive cross-border smuggling tunnel linking Mexico and the US. Who would have thunk it? Hidden beneath would appear to be an ordinary Southern California storefront.
In today's Back of the Brief, President Trump has selected Housing Finance Chief Bill Pulte to oversee the nation's intelligence community. I am not making this up. Despite a complete lack of experience within national security or intelligence, Pulte, known for his home-building business, is now the Acting Director of National Intelligence.
But first, today's PDB Spotlight. If you've been following the headlines surrounding the US-Iran negotiations, you've probably noticed a recurring theme. Nobody seems entirely sure how close the two sides actually are to any sort of deal. One day, reports suggest an agreement is imminent. The next day, Iranian officials are downplaying the prospects for a breakthrough. President Trump says negotiations are moving forward, while hardliners in Tehran insist major obstacles remain. One minute, the White House or State Department says we're very close to a deal. The next, the president says he's bored with the process and doesn't care if it collapses.
The truth is that there are so many conflicting reports surrounding the talks that it's difficult to know exactly where things stand. But amid all the uncertainty, one thing is becoming increasingly clear. We have a pretty good idea of what Iran wants. And understanding those demands helps explain why reaching a lasting agreement remains so difficult. First and foremost, Iran wants sanctions relief. This is the one issue that appears to unite virtually every major faction inside the Iranian political system and governing regime. After years of sanctions, economic isolation and a devastating war with Israel and the US., Tehran desperately needs economic breathing room. Iran wants access to billions of dollars in frozen assets held abroad. It wants restrictions on its oil exports lifted. And it wants foreign investment to return. It also wants relief from the economic pressure campaign that's weighed on the country for years. It would also like a pony. In short, Iran wants to get paid. The second major demand centers on Iran's nuclear and missile programs. The Trump administration has repeatedly stated that any long-term agreement must prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and address concerns surrounding its enrichment activities. Tehran, however, continues to describe both its nuclear program and ballistic missile capabilities as national assets.
America's negotiators tend to view Iran's enrichment program as the problem. Iranian leaders increasingly portray it as a symbol of national sovereignty. From their perspective, agreeing to dismantle those capabilities would be no different than surrendering control of their borders or disbanding their military.
And that disagreement may be the single largest obstacle standing between the two sides. Then, of course, there's the infamous Strait of Hormuz. We've all become Strait of Hormuz experts over the past couple of months. For months now, Iran has insisted that it should play a leading role in regulating traffic through the strategic waterway. For those unfamiliar, and there can't be many at this point, the Strait of Hormuz is one of the most important maritime choke points on the planet. Roughly a fifth of the world's seaborne oil passes through it. Control the Strait of Hormuz and you gain influence over global energy markets.
Iranian officials have suggested they should have authority over vessel traffic, inspections, and transit regulations. The US, meanwhile, insists that international shipping must remain free from Iranian interference.
Iran views Hormuz as one of its few sources of leverage. Washington views freedom of navigation as non-negotiable. And that brings us, perhaps, to the most important question of all. Why does Iran think that it can make these demands in the first place? Well, the answer lies in how Iran views the outcome of the conflict. From Washington's perspective, Iran suffered significant losses. The US and Israel struck military facilities, nuclear infrastructure, air defenses and key members of Iran's leadership. The country's economy was battered, and its military capabilities were significantly degraded. But that is not how many inside the Iranian regime see it. Hardliners, Revolutionary Guard commanders, and much of Iran's state media have spent months promoting a different narrative. Yes, it's true, Iran took heavy losses, but the regime survived, and the Islamic Republic remains in power. The Revolutionary Guard remains intact, and the government did not collapse. Iran was able to continue launching attacks throughout the conflict, and ultimately emerged with its political system still standing. And they continue to keep traffic through the strait, essentially frozen. To many of Tehran's leaders, that means that they are not negotiating a surrender. They are negotiating from a position of resilience.