Podcast Summary: Drop Site News
Episode: EXCLUSIVE: Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Rejects Trump’s “Big Lie” About Why He Went to War
Date: March 4, 2026
Host: Jeremy Scahill
Guest: Esmael Bagai, Deputy Foreign Minister and Spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry
Episode Overview
Amid the fifth day of an intense US-Israeli bombing campaign against Iran, Drop Site News host Jeremy Scahill holds an exclusive interview with Esmael Bagai, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister. The conversation delves into the ongoing conflict, the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, the state of diplomatic negotiations with the US, accusations of aggression, manipulation of narratives, and the broader implications for the region's security and the possibility of an existential war.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Situation in Iran: Bombing Campaign and Civilian Deaths
- [00:00–01:32]
The episode opens with a grave summary of the ongoing US and Israeli bombings across Iran, rising civilian casualties, and a fierce Iranian retaliatory response. - Status of Leadership:
- The Iranian Supreme Leader and family members have been killed in US-Israeli attacks.
- The Assembly of Experts, which selects the new Supreme Leader, was also targeted, but the constitutional process continues under an interim leadership council.
2. US and Israeli Targeting of Leadership and Civilians
- [01:32–05:29]
Bagai denounces the attacks as acts of genocide, referencing direct strikes on both leadership targets and civilians, including a school in Minab where 181 children were killed.- “Why are they trying to kill everyone in Iran? I can call it a kind of genocide on the one hand…”
—Esmael Bagai [02:43]
- “Why are they trying to kill everyone in Iran? I can call it a kind of genocide on the one hand…”
- He questions the legality and morality of framing Iran as an imminent threat:
- “Did we come to the Gulf of Mexico to target Los Angeles and other U.S. cities? Or they come 6,500 miles away from Iranian shores and they are just targeting every part of Iran.”
—Bagai [04:30]
- “Did we come to the Gulf of Mexico to target Los Angeles and other U.S. cities? Or they come 6,500 miles away from Iranian shores and they are just targeting every part of Iran.”
3. Diplomatic Engagements and Breakdown
- [05:29–08:45]
Scahill asks whether Iran sought to reopen talks with the US. Bagai categorically rejects US claims that Iran reached out:- “Do you think any Iranian with common sense would be really in a position to reach out to the United States under these circumstances?”
—Bagai [06:03]
- “Do you think any Iranian with common sense would be really in a position to reach out to the United States under these circumstances?”
- He details prior negotiations facilitated by Oman and Geneva, claiming Iran acted in good faith, but the US betrayed diplomacy, launching attacks days before scheduled talks.
- Current diplomatic stance: Total focus on self-defense, not negotiation.
4. Contradictory US Narratives and the “Big Lie”
- [08:45–11:46]
The conversation exposes conflicting justifications by the Trump administration:- The US initially said it preemptively attacked because Iran would retaliate against Israel.
- Later, Trump suggested talks failing led to strikes, claiming an Iranian first-strike threat.
- “Lies after lies. ...All these negotiations, this diplomatic process has been a sham. It has been a sort of deception.”
—Bagai [10:10]
- Bagai accuses the US of dishonesty and destroying its diplomatic credibility.
5. Iran’s Nuclear Program and Alleged Bomb-Making
- [11:46–15:30]
Scahill presses Bagai on Trump envoy Steve Witkoff’s allegation that Iran boasted of possessing enough enriched uranium for 11 bombs.- “Absolutely false. That’s simply a big lie.”
—Bagai [13:20]
- “Absolutely false. That’s simply a big lie.”
- Bagai insists all enrichment is under IAEA inspection, and offers to dilute uranium to allay concerns, but these proposals were dismissed.
6. Allegations of Aggression in the Gulf and “False Flags”
- [15:30–19:07]
Addressing claims of Iranian attacks on Gulf oil infrastructure, Bagai categorically denies any intentional targeting of Arab neighbors:- “We never attack civilians. ...We are entitled to target the origin of those attacks against Iran. But we are very careful because we are noble people.”
—Bagai [17:10]
- “We never attack civilians. ...We are entitled to target the origin of those attacks against Iran. But we are very careful because we are noble people.”
- He claims some attacks may be "false flag" operations by Israel to escalate conflict and draw in Gulf states.
7. International & Religious Fallout of Leadership Assassination
- [19:07–20:59]
Bagai describes the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader as an unprecedented assault on a religious figure, resulting in unrest among Muslim communities worldwide and shifting the war into a “civilizational, religious war.”- “The consequences would be dire, would be long-term consequences. ...They turned this war of aggression into a sort of civilizational religious war.”
—Bagai [19:57]
- “The consequences would be dire, would be long-term consequences. ...They turned this war of aggression into a sort of civilizational religious war.”
8. US-Kurdish Cooperation and Fears of Regime Change
- [20:59–24:49]
Scahill asks about US efforts to recruit Kurdish groups for possible destabilization operations.- Bagai asserts this fits a pattern of US/Israeli actions to create chaos and failed states through ethnic manipulation and regime-change tactics.
- Further references the January protests in Iran, blaming external infiltration for turning unrest violent:
- “They have so much appetite for turning the states into chaos. And that’s what they are trying to do in Iran, abusing ethnicities, abusing other countries’ ethnic minorities.”
—Bagai [22:44]
- “They have so much appetite for turning the states into chaos. And that’s what they are trying to do in Iran, abusing ethnicities, abusing other countries’ ethnic minorities.”
9. Outlook: Negotiated Solution or Existential War?
- [24:49–27:58]
Scahill’s final question: Is a negotiated solution still possible?- Bagai views the conflict as existential, accusing the US of always finding new pretexts, referencing Iran’s historical grievances:
- “I think this is an existential war because this is what they have imposed on Iran for the past two years. We tried our best… whatever we did, they raised another excuse.” —Bagai [25:07]
- He criticizes attacks on Iranian heritage and civilians, likening current US actions to the 1953 coup that overthrew Iran's elected leader:
- “They are waging a war against one of the most enduring civilizations across the globe… instead of trying to somehow take care of the old wound that they created in 1953, they are recreating that.” —Bagai [27:30]
- Bagai views the conflict as existential, accusing the US of always finding new pretexts, referencing Iran’s historical grievances:
Memorable Quotes
- “I can call it a kind of genocide on the one hand… they are killing not only the leaders, but also those who are going to be the future generation of Iran.” —Esmael Bagai [02:43]
- “Do you think any Iranian with common sense would be really in a position to reach out to the United States under these circumstances?” —Bagai [06:03]
- “Lies after lies. ...All these negotiations, this diplomatic process has been a sham.” —Bagai [10:10]
- “Absolutely false. That’s simply a big lie… Everyone who has a minimum knowledge of technical aspects of nuclear science knows that simply having these stockpile doesn’t mean that you are going to make nuclear weapon.” —Bagai [13:20]
- “We never attack civilians. ...We are very careful because we are noble people. We are Persians, we are Iranians.” —Bagai [17:10]
- “They have so much appetite for turning the states into chaos. And that’s what they are trying to do in Iran, abusing ethnicities, abusing other countries’ ethnic minorities.” —Bagai [22:44]
- “I think this is an existential war because this is what they have imposed on Iran for the past two years.” —Bagai [25:07]
- “They are waging a war against one of the most enduring civilization across the globe.” —Bagai [27:30]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- [00:00–01:32] — Scene-setting: Bombing of Iran and loss of Khamenei
- [01:32–05:29] — Attacks on Iranian leadership and civilians
- [05:29–08:45] — Diplomatic overtures and collapse
- [08:45–11:46] — Contradictory US war narratives
- [11:46–15:30] — Nuclear allegations and Iran’s response
- [15:30–19:07] — Iranian actions in the Gulf and “false flags”
- [19:07–20:59] — Religious and international ramifications
- [20:59–24:49] — US-Kurdish ties and regime change fears
- [24:49–27:58] — Prospects for peace vs. existential war
Tone & Final Thoughts
The tone throughout is urgent, defiant, and accusatory, both from Scahill’s investigative questioning and Bagai’s impassioned, detailed rebuttals of US and Israeli actions and narratives. Bagai repeatedly calls for the American public to confront the truth about their government’s policies and paints Iran as besieged yet resolute. The episode concludes on a somber note, with Bagai warning of long-term historic consequences and signaling that Iran perceives the conflict as a struggle for national survival rather than a diplomatic dispute.
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