On Monday’s NBC Today, chief foreign correspondent Richard Engel reported live from Tehran on the lifting of sanctions on Iran and sounded like an anchor on Iranian state television as he touted the authoritarian regime celebrating the development: “Well, this is an extraordinary time to be here in Tehran. The mood is one of expectation and optimism. People are encouraged by the deal. They think they got the better half of the deal, and they are looking forward to a better economy.”
Engel bemoaned how the sanctions had “devastated the Iranian economy, put a stranglehold on the economy.” He proclaimed: “It was illegal for Iranian people and businesses to move money in and out of the country. Now banks can do that....And tens of billions of dollars have been unfrozen. That money hasn't hit the economy yet, but it could fairly soon.”
Fill-in co-host Tamron Hall wondered: “What is the government telling its own people?” Engel promoted the Iranian president praising the nuclear deal and blasting critics:
...he said that this was a victory for Iran, a victory for the principles of the Iranian revolution. He said it was also a win-win and that all the countries around the world supported this deal, with the exception of what he said were “warmongers in the region,” Israel, and what he called “extremists in Washington,” which many here interpreted as a reference to Donald Trump and some of the other Republican candidates.
No soundbites were featured of any of the Republican candidates objecting to the deal.
Here is a full transcript of the January 18 report:
7:13 AM ET
TAMRON HALL: Let's get more on this from Richard Engel, NBC’s chief foreign correspondent, he’s in Tehran. So, Richard, what is the mood there today?
RICHARD ENGEL: Well, this is an extraordinary time to be here in Tehran. The mood is one of expectation and optimism. People are encouraged by the deal. They think they got the better half of the deal, and they are looking forward to a better economy. The sanctions that had been put in place, now lifted, devastated the Iranian economy, put a stranglehold on the economy.
It was illegal for Iranian people and businesses to move money in and out of the country. Now banks can do that. Iran couldn't legally trade its oil. Now Iran can, although oil clearly is not worth what it used to be. And tens of billions of dollars have been unfrozen. That money hasn't hit the economy yet, but it could fairly soon.
We were just in the bazaar area, right in the heart of Iran, the commercial center of this city, and people were already talking about stocking up their inventory. They’re expecting more tourists to come. I was probably the only American – I was certainly the only American I saw in the bazaar area – people came up to me and said, “We hope more Americans come. We want to do business.” So definitely a mood of hope.
HALL: And, Richard, you pointed out logical reasons why the people there would be encouraged, but what is the government telling its own people?
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Politics of U.S.-Iran Prisoner Swap; Preisdent Obama Urges “New Path” Amid New Sanctions]
ENGEL: Well, the president, Rouhani, gave a national address and he said that this was a victory for Iran, a victory for the principles of the Iranian revolution. He said it was also a win-win and that all the countries around the world supported this deal, with the exception of what he said were “warmongers in the region,” Israel, and what he called “extremists in Washington,” which many here interpreted as a reference to Donald Trump and some of the other Republican candidates. Tamron?
HALL: Alright, Richard, thank you so much.
