Key Takeaways:
– Iran displays indifference towards Trump’s re-election and doesn’t anticipate any major changes in US policies.
– Tensions continue in the Middle East with Iran-backed groups like Hamas and Hezbollah engaging in conflicts.
– Trump’s past dealings with Iran, including the imposition of sanctions and the withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal, have increased Iran-US hostilities.
– Iran, however, still prioritizes its relations with Islamic and neighboring countries, calling Trump’s victory an opportunity for the US to reassess its past policies.
Trump’s Second Term: Iran vs US
Donald Trump once again will seat in the Oval Office in January, succeeding the Vice President, Kamala Harris. However, Iran, an important player in the Middle East, expresses indifference to this development. They maintain that they foresee no major changes in US policy, especially regarding sanctions and wars in the Middle East.
The Middle East Strife
The Middle East remains unstable due to the Gaza war outbreak in October 2023, mainly due to the Hamas, a Palestinian militant group backed by Iran, attacking Israel. This conflict has now spread to Lebanon where Israel faces off with Hezbollah. Interestingly, Hezbollah, also backed by Iran, has launched two attacks on Israel using drones and missiles.
John Ghazvinian, a respected author on US-Iran history, states that following a new American president’s election, Iran usually adopts a ‘wait and see’ approach. The supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s main strategy is to observe the actions of the new administration towards Iran before proceeding.
Trump and the Middle-East History
During his first term in 2017, Trump imposed harsh sanctions on Iran, creating a series of tensions that strained both nations’ relations. His decisions in 2017 and 2018 to acknowledge Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights further complicated relations. Rahman Ghahremanpour, a foreign policy analyst, adds that given the current regional tensions and his past policies, Trump spells more risk for Iran compared to the Democrats.
Iran’s Position Remain Unchanged
Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared that, regardless of who won the US election, it had no substantial impact on Iran. Iran is more geared towards nurturing relations with Islamic and neighboring countries, and Beijing views Trump’s victory as a chance for the US to rethink past ‘wrong policies’.
Bitter Past Experiences
Esmaeil Baghaei, the foreign ministry spokesman, cited their country’s past bitter experiences with various US governments’ policies. They still remember how in 2018 Trump single-handedly withdrew the US from the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers and re-imposed harsh sanctions on the Islamic republic. Further escalating tensions, the US, under Trump’s administration in 2020, took out Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps General Qasem Soleimani in an airstrike on Baghdad airport.
Trump, upon his re-election, reassured reporters that he doesn’t wish to cause more damage to Iran. Maintaining that his terms were simple and easy – they should not have a nuclear weapon. He expressed his wish for Iran to be a successful country.
Towards the Future
Iran has always held steadfast to its claim that its nuclear activities are peaceful, despite gradually suspending compliance with the caps on nuclear activities after the US pullout from the nuclear deal in 2018.
President Pezeshkian, who took office in July, has voiced his wish for the revival of the agreement and to end Iran’s isolation. However, hopes for reviving the talks have been halted due to regional tensions.
As such, the future remains uncertain. Ghazvinian and political expert Foad Izadi opine that ending Iran’s isolation and ceasing wars in Gaza and Lebanon won’t be on Trump’s agenda. Despite the turmoil, the Iranian government stands resolute to their policies. They are set to respond appropriately to regional conflicts, including Israel’s attacks on its territories. Therefore, for now, the world watches as the next chapter of the Iran-US relations unfolds.