David Smith: The Guardian's Washington Bureau Chief on the war in the Middle East, US-Iran peace deal

The Middle East War has left Iran with a harder-line regime than before, says The Guardian's Washington Bureau Chief. 

David Smith told Andrew Dickens that although the United States and Iran have agreed on a deal to end the war, it is more relief than resolution. 

“I think it's hard to celebrate after such a rough war with so many civilian casualties, we should not forget them. And frankly, a war that's left the Iranian population worse off now with a more hardline regime and an economic crisis. 

"Also many critics would argue [the war] has dealt a real blow to US power and prestige and shown the limits of that power." 

Smith said he believes the Iranian regime will be less likely to make concessions on its nuclear programme. 

"I think partly because the Iranian regime does feel emboldened. For them, nearly hanging on and surviving was victory, and they achieved that. And we now have something more like a military junta that is younger and more radicalised and feels emboldened that it managed to stand up to the Goliath Americans." 

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