A prominent Iranian political analyst has accused President Donald Trump of behaving like a mafia boss in his approach to Iran, following the re-imposition of sanctions and the US withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal.
Professor Mohammad Marandi, speaking to the BBC's HARDtalk programme, said the American administration was attempting to crush and humiliate the Iranian people, but predicted such efforts would fail.
He acknowledged that the Iranian economy would face difficulties as a result of the sanctions, but expressed confidence that it would stabilise within a few months, noting that the country had endured far worse conditions in the past.
Professor Marandi's remarks were made in an interview due to be broadcast on BBC World News on Wednesday 15 August and Thursday 16 August 2018, and available on BBC iPlayer for UK viewers.
