Iran evaluates Donald Trump's return to US presidency

Mehdi Fattahi and Jon Gambrell, Associated Press

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Like many around the world, Iranians are divided over Donald Trump’s decisions. next presidency It will bring: Some predict an all-out war between Tehran and Washington, especially as other conflicts in the region intensify. Others hope America’s 47th president might engage in unexpected diplomacy Did it with North Korea.

But almost everyone believes that something will change in US-Iran relations.

Political analyst Ahmed Zeidabadi warned that “Trump will use harsher methods against Iran.” “Iranian authorities will continue to reject him, which may cause him to increase pressure.”

While Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say on all state-related matters, has repeatedly expressed his disgust with Trump, Iran’s new reformist president has kept the door open to talks with Trump to get rid of international sanctions. a cratering economy. Iranian rial has been in free fall for years It hit its lowest value against the dollar on Wednesday before recovering a bit.

The United States and Iran have had a hostile relationship since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution. US Embassy seizure and hostage crisis that lasted 444 days followed this.

Trump’s first term in office was marked by a particularly troubled period in which he pursued a policy of “maximum pressure” against Tehran. He unilaterally withdrew America from Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers, which led to sanctions cripple the economy, and ordered Iran to withdraw from its nuclear deal with Iran. assassination of the country’s top general.

Approval Trump’s re-election It came too late for most Wednesday newspapers. Many who followed the official line on Thursday condemned the victory. The Hamshahri newspaper ran a picture of Trump in an orange prison jumpsuit and handcuffed with the headline “The return of the murderer.” Sert Javan newspaper said that “we returned to the scene of the crime”.

On the streets of Tehran, opinions diverged further. Some feared a return to the lows of Trump’s first presidency. Others expressed joy.

“I’m very happy that Trump won because he’s a really strong man,” said Fatemeh Kaveh, 40. “I see him as a role model in terms of personality and I always watch his stories (on social media),” and I believe him. “I’m so happy he won.”

People cross an intersection in Tehran, northern Iran, Thursday, November 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

However, the view that is above all important in the Iranian theocracy is the view of Khamenei, who was the country’s most important ruler throughout six American presidencies. He made his views on Trump clear.

In 2019, Khamenei told the late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, “I do not see Trump as a person worth messaging and I have no answer for him, and I will not answer in the future.” After Trump withdrew the United States from the nuclear deal, which offered Iran immunity from international sanctions in exchange for restrictions aimed at preventing it from building an atomic bomb.

Then came Trump’s assassination decision Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qasem SoleimaniHe is one of Iran’s leading figures in the drone attack in Baghdad in 2020.

Khamenei’s personal website still includes a video showing Trump being killed in an Iranian drone strike while playing golf with former US Secretary of State and CIA chief Mike Pompeo. Both men have received additional protection On Iran’s threats to their lives – and the country Accused of hacking Trump campaign partners in the hope of damaging their prospects. Iranians also did not forget the killing of Soleimani.

“This is a good time for Iran to retaliate; the killer of our hero is back,” said Reza Solatani, 39, who lives in Tehran. “He must eventually pay for his crime.”

The question now is how this tough approach will succeed in the face of the economic crisis and other challenges.

A number of mass protests have increased over the past few years; lastly too 2022 death of Mahsa Amini And Women who refuse the state-mandated headscarfor headscarf.

Iran continues to be locked down Middle East wars that stir the regionand its leaders threatened retaliatory attacks After Israel’s October 26 attack. The allies of the self-described “Axis of Resistance,” including militant groups such as Hamas, Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthi rebels, have been battered. As Iranians struggle economically, support for these groups has become a cry of protest.

Zohreh Naghavi, 36, who works in a clothing store, said Trump’s election means “peace will return to Lebanon and Gaza and Iran will not spend our money there.” “This is good news.”

People drink tea in the outdoor dining area of a cafe in Tehran, northern Iran, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Iranian President Massoud PezeshkianIran, which will celebrate its first 100 days in office next week, campaigned by promising to help the West lift sanctions on Iran’s nuclear program, which now enriches uranium to near weapons level.

On Thursday, Pezeshkian appeared open to talks with Washington even after Trump’s victory, saying “it doesn’t matter who wins the US elections.”

“We will by no means have a closed and limited approach to expanding ties with other countries,” he said, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.

This leaves open the possibility of negotiations. Trump courted North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his first term. Some Iranians imagined the next president would do the same in Tehran.

“Trump may announce that he wants to talk to Pezeshkian personally because he is a showman,” analyst Zeidabadi said. “Unfortunately, the problem is that (the government) cannot accept this. “Even if some in the government are interested in doing this, the majority of hard-liners won’t allow it, which could further anger Trump.”

Still, some think Iran is already at breaking point.

“Considering the state of the dollar (exchange rate), people’s living conditions and high prices, I think Iran has no choice but to make peace with Trump,” said Sina Khaledian, a 32-year-old nurse. “Medicine and health services are inadequate. They have to do this. I think the country’s endurance capacity has been exhausted.”

Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Associated Press writers Nasser Karimi and Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report.

First Publication Date: November 7, 2024 12:12 CST

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