And so, for an on-the-ground perspective,## we turn to Reza Sayah.

He's the "News# Hour"'s special correspondent in Tehran.

Reza, thank you so much again for talking with us.

When U.S.

officials are talking about these# strikes, they keep stressing that they are hitting## military targets in Iran, not civilian# targets.

Is that your understanding?

REZA SAYAH: Well, I can tell you# firsthand that that's not the case.

Indeed, they are hitting military targets, but# they're also increasingly hitting non-military## targets.

Yesterday, airstrikes knocked out power# in parts of Tehran.

That happened again today,## and also in the island of Qeshm# along Iran's southern coast.

The power is back on, but that's two days# in a row where we have seen power outages.## And that has many here worried because of# President Trump's threat to hit Iran's power grid.

This morning, state media reported an airstrike# hitting one of Iran's leading pharmaceutical## manufacturing companies.

And this adds to# the list of strikes on non-military sites.## We have seen airstrikes on universities,# fuel storage depots, port facilities,## event and steel factories, and# historical and cultural sites.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Reza, what is your understanding# of the diplomatic talks that are under way?

We## have heard conflicting reports from the# president and from the Iranian government.## What are your sources telling you# about the status of those talks?

REZA SAYAH: Well, I think any real reasonable# person would say that many of Mr.

Trump's## statements about talks are often inconsistent.# One day, he's saying negotiations are happening## and he's winning the war.

The next day,# he's deploying troops, making threats.

So Tehran pretty much dismisses his statements.# The Foreign Ministry is often very polite,## but military leaders often mock him.# Tehran's position is, this is a president## that's twice attacked Iran in# the middle of talks.

So they## don't trust him and when it comes# to his claims about negotiations.

Their focus is on defending their country# against what they view as an illegal attack.## At the same time, the Foreign Ministry# says they're always prepared for talks## if the talks are held with respect# and recognize Iran's rights.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Reza, at the beginning# of these attacks, President Trump said he## wanted to create the conditions where# Iranians themselves could rise up, and## thus weaken the Iranian government and allow# individual Iranians to rise up and take power.

How realistic does that seem to you?

REZA SAYAH: Well, at this point, I# can tell you that we're in the fifth## week of this war, and there's been no# indication of an anti-government uprising.

In contrast, almost every day, even on nights# where it's been raining, you have (AUDIO GAP)## of the population joining them, most of# the core supporters of the government,## religious and conservatives, but increasingly# you're seeing more progressive, liberal Iranians.

Obviously, many Iranians were dissatisfied with# this government, but they didn't want their## dissatisfaction to lead to an attack by the United# States in Israel.

So you're seeing increasingly## solidarity among different sectors of# the population for the military troops.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: All right, that is Reza# Sayah joining us from Tehran in Iran.

Reza, great to talk to you.

Thank you.

REZA SAYAH: Thank you.