I have sat down with nearly half a dozen senior government officials as well as visited with iranians in their homes, workplaces, and cafes to better understand the issues, the attitudes, and what may happen next here in iran tonight officials are warning the United States against trying to detain an Iranian Oil Tanker that was freed by authorities in gibraltar. The u. S. Tried to block its release for violating american sanctions. Its the latest potential flash point between the u. S. And iran, and tonight we get a rare view of things from inside iran reporter were in iran as tensions in the u. S. Grow. We travelled via germany one of few western European Airlines still flying to an increasingly isolated iran. Here on the ground in tehran, we find a country that remains defiant in the face of its high stakes, high risk staredown with the United States. One of my first stops, the ministry speaking with javad zarif not long after he rejected an invitation to meet with President Trump. Do you think it was a result of your refusal . It was presented to me as such you will will be designated in two weeks, but you have an invitation to come to the oval office it was that quick thats one hell of a way of inviting someone for negotiations why reject it why not go visit the president , sit down, have a cup of tea, and talk it over we have talked it over. We talked with the Previous Administration at length we were talking to the Current Administration at the Deputy Foreign minister administer level the white house telling nbc news assertions that the administration conveyed a threat of sanctions unless zarif travelled to washington to meet with the president are patently false. Zarif told us there is nothing more to talk about, but the Trump Administration says there is plenty to talk about including irans threats toward israel it accuses iran leading the world in terms of state sponsor of terror, assisting hezbollah, hamas, al qaeda, fuelling iraq, fomenting civil wars in syria. What do you say to all that . First of all, the nuclear deed we have was negotiated in the context of our regional disputes number two, whos the source of instability in the region . Who supported Saddam Hussein what they invaded iran who supported the taliban when they took over in afghanistan in the 90s the answer to these questions would not be iran. The answer would be u. S. Allies. Reporter the tensions growing after the United States unilaterally withdrew from an obama era deal that restricted irans ability to develop a Nuclear Weapon in a rare interview, i spoke to the powerful head of irans Security Council who says in hindsight he regrets the deal. Translator there are people in my country who that feeling at the moment. Are you one of them translator im just following the viewpoints of my own nation, the people of iran yes. After President Trump reimposed harsh sanctions, iran lashed out downing a u. S. Drone and according to the u. S. Sabotaging oil tankers, risking accidental war Irans National Security chief saying the risk of war is low, but he warns translator in the case of war, the u. S. Will be in a very terrible situation. And its regional allies as well. How far is iran willing to go to defend its interests . Translator iran has multiple instruments at hand including the proxy war. Reporter as you can imagine the sanctions and the tensions are on everyones minds here on a daily basis and certainly in newspapers i dont speak persian, but im told this headline has to do with foreign minister zarif in Northern Europe right now trying to gain support against the sanctions. This is talks about president rouhani and warning about Foreign Forces in the region everyone we spoke to was talking about the showdown reza and zara invited us into their home a few months ago there was great concern that there could be war between your country and mine. Were you worried about that . Some people are worried she was worried. She was very worried we meet ali and madi at a coffee shop. Grouf youve grown up under it your whole life the country has been under sanctions yeah, our whole life under sanctions people have learned to handle the pressure sometimes its better. Sometimes its not President Trump says sunday iran now wants to talk their economy is crashing its crashing. Inflation is through the roof. Theyre doing really badly and they very much want to make a deal they just dont know how to call because theyre proud people and i understand that. But i have a feeling that maybe things with iran could work out and maybe not. But iran still defiant tonight saying it will soon further reduce compliance with a now tattered nuclear deal. Whats the next step for iran . Translator we will make that public we will continue and follow this active resistance approach in all sectors. There is no doubt there will be even more decisive steps to be taken. Reporter mistrust of u. S. Intentions runs deep here. One official today thought it important to remind me that today is the 66th anniversary of the cia organized coupe that unseated irans elected Prime Minister well have more from the streets of iran, what everyday life is like here for the people here. Its a rare and fascinating look inside this country and perhaps not what you might think thats just ahead. But for the moment, lets turn it to Savannah Guthrie in new york with a lot of other news breaking back home lester, thank you and there is breaking news tonight. In a case that made national headlines. New yorks Police Commissioner fired the officer at the center of the eric garner case more than five years after his death became a rallying cry for the black lives matter movement. Heres nbcs ron allen reporter five years after the video showed Daniel Pantaleo arresting eric garner for selling untaxed cigarettes on a new york street i cant breathe i cant breathe. Reporter today the Police Commissioner fired pantaleo for using a choke hold, a violation of nypd rules. Its clear that Daniel Pantaleo can no longer serve as a new York City Police officer reporter for garners family a small victory. Commissioner oneal, i thank you for doing the right thing. I truly thank you for firing the officer. Reporter pantaleo, 34, 13 years on the force had been restricted to desk duty since the 2014 incident. Federal prosecutors chose not to file charges but a judge found enough evidence he used a choke hold to say he should be fired what i want the residents of the new york city to take that there is accountability within the new York City Police department it is fair and impartial reporter the police union accused the commissioner of bowing to pressure our Police Officers are in distress because they realize theyre abandoned. Reporter for garners family it marks the first time in five years someone has been held accountable for his death. Pantaleo, you may have lost a job, but i lost a son. Thats right. Reporter garners family wants the criminal case reopened and other officers involved to face discipline. Pantaleos lawyer said he will appeal all this may be far from over. Savannah ron allen thank you. There is more breaking news on accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Tonight were learning about the will he signed just two days before his death and new reaction from Buckingham Palace has epsteins friendship with the prince is under scrutiny heres kelly cobiella. Reporter in the Virgin Islands where Jeffrey Epstein called home, a will filed before his death in federal custody it was filed two days before his death for an estate worth 577 Million Dollar also today, more fall out from his death. William barr reassigning the active director of the bureau of prisons. Prince andrew is distancing himself after this video surfaced in british media. They say it shows the duke at the doorway of disgraced fanciers new york mansion nbc news has not confirmed when the video was shot or if the prince is the person seen in the doorway. British media says the video was recorded around the same time the pair was photographed together in new york in 2010 after epstein was designated a sex offender Buckingham Palace did not comment the video when asked by nbc news but in a statement said his Royal Highness deplores the exploitation of any human being, and the suggestion he would condone, participate in, or encourage any such behavior is abhorrent prince andrews has face accusations around the sex trafficking ring, accusations he has denied this case clearly not put to rest on either side of the Atlantic Kelly cobiella, nbc news london. A battle over Abortion Access planned parenthood has announced it will withdraw from the title 10, the Family Planning program because of a new rule by the Trump Administration that prevents clinics from giving Abortion Provider referrals. That move could impact more than 1. 5 million low income women who depend on planned parenthood for birth control, pregnancy tests, std screenings and more. Tonight four cities stopped Mass Shootings or bombing attacks. Two suspects had white supremacist leanings and two were obsessed with Mass Shootings. Nbcs Pete Williams now with the details. Reporter in a florida supermarket, authorities arrest a man 12 hours after getting a tip he was making threats. The county sheriff says 25yearold tristan wix of Daytona Beach sent disturbing Text Messages to his exgirlfriend including, quote, i want to open fire on a large crowd of people. Investigators say he was fascinated with Mass Shootings in connecticut, brandon wag shaw was arrested after a tip said he bought high powering magazines out of state he too was interested in Mass Violence he signed a statement saying he did not have intention of committing mass shooting in ohio, a search turned up four weapons after social media posts from James Reardon threaten ed Jewish Community center. Investigators say hes a white supremacist who attended the charlottesville unite the white rally. Las vegas police say he communicated with a neonazi group and talked with an undercover operative about attacking a synagogue or a gay bar. Reports show him patrolling his neighborhood with an assault rifle. Pete williams, nbc News Washington now to iran and more of lesters exclusive visit inside the tensions escalating between the u. S. And iran. We wanted to look at something we hardly ever see, the impact on the people there. Lester, i know youve been talking to people from all walks of life. Yes, savannah the u. S. Is maintaining its beefed up military presence in the persian gulf region. It may have fired its most important and potent weapon, the harshest ever economic sanctions against iran officials here acknowledge they are painful. We tried to understand is there a breaking point for as many headlines as it makes in america, iran is a country we rarely get to see one of the first things you notice here, a stalled construction project along the tehran skyline unemployment is high food prices have doubled things are very expensive . Yes shoppers in this bazaar tell us everything has gone up. Even some who were better off are feeling the pinch. What is it like right now doing business in iran very hard entrepreneurs like high end Fashion Designer complain business is drying up. Its become very less customers for us because its expensive. Yes, because expensive. Of course pain to the economy is the point of the Trump Administrations maximum pressure campaign. Using sanctions to force irans leaders to change their behavior to get back to the bargaining table. We dont want money going out to sponsor terror. And they are the number one sponsor of terror anywhere in the world. Back at home with reza and zara, they tell us those american sanctions were a surprise many people didnt expect this they thought that as iran stuck by its part of the deal, the United States would do the same. Still we found not all iranians are blaming the u. S tell me about the economy its terrible its very bad. Do you blame the United States well, no. There is a point i dont know if you can you have to get along with even the enemy. The jury is still out whether the u. S. Pressure is working. Consumers here still have access to popular items for example, apple doesnt do business here in iran but as i discovered you can still buy Apple Computers and iphones through a gray market of third party countries. They come from china. Right people want to buy them . Theyre popular here yeah. Cyrus consults with Companies Looking to legally do business here those guys know how to get the products into iran and there is enough customer demand despite higher prices for those products to still be in the market after four decades of sanctions, iran has perfected the art of the work around take oil, irans most valuable commodity. The u. S. Effort to cut off irans oil exports has cost the country billions of dollars in revenue. But Irans Central Bank governor insisting to me much still gets through. Can you put a number on it . How much oil you are still able to export . Translator as mr. Trump has announced we are exporting oil please let us keep the process to ourselves Tehran Bureau chief ali arouzi has covered iran for 12 years. This is not a country on the brink of collapse by any ways. They figured ways of circumventing sanctions and using the sanctions. But for how long. Thats the critical question the u. S. Is testing tonight. While sanctions have long been a part of life here, people do say this latest round has been the most challenging savannah, back to you in new york well be back shortly theres much more ahead including the murder mystery rocking a College Campus a victim found stabbed to death on the first day of the school year the man hunt tonight for a killer and the urgent surge at sea, two firefighters on a fishing trip missing three days. Stay with us were back now with breaking news out of southern california. Police are searching for a suspect after a man was found stabbed to death on the campus of cal state fullerton nbcs Miguel Almaguer with the details. Reporter the fatal attack on campus took place just days before students returned to cal state fullerton. A retired administrator found stabbed multiple times in his own car. When Police Responded to the grizzly scene, the suspect was gone blood hounds combing the school as investigators launched a man hunt for the killer. The backpack was located. Inside the backpack was an incendiary device. Found inside the backpack were multiple items one would potentially use to kidnap someone. The Police Believe the victim and attacker may know one another. I never experienced anything like this, so its kind of freaky reporter with no apparent motive for the killing, tonight police say the school is safe and secure but theres no sign of the man who brutally killed another on this usually tranquil campus Miguel Almaguer, nbc news. Coming up the massive search to find two firefighters lost at sea. Tonight there is an intense all hands on deck search for two firefighters who havent been seen since leaving for a fushing trip last week in florida. Reporter its the rescue mission awing hundreds to the waters off florida they have left no stone unturned reporter Kevin Mccluney confident his brother is live after leaving with his friend justin walker. The two firefighters last seen before a fishing trip on friday. They were in the same Fire Fighting class together. Theyre going to be looking out for each other for sure. Reporter the coast guard spending more than 70 hours scouring the waters, covering over 20,000 square miles these guys have the skills to survive for a long time. Reporter joining the search for than 50 fellow firefighters using their own boats to find their lost brothers. Its family and its treated as so. Its something sacred and so amazing. Reporter tonight the only clue recovered, mccluneys fishing bag found nearly 50 miles offshore were holding strong. They have the stubbornness and the drive. We are staying on it full course reporter morgan chesky, nbc news we are back in a moment. Finally tonight from tehran, a bid about our journey on the ground officials are wary of