Iran faces falling currency and mixed response as Trump wins

In Tehran’s first official response to Donald Trumpvictory in US presidential electionsIranian government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani played down the event. speaking“The US presidential election does not matter to us… there is no difference between these two people (Donald Trump and Kamala Harris).”

However, the depreciation of Iran’s official currency against the US dollar on Wednesday suggests that the outcome of the election does matter to Iran. Iran.

Since the Islamists came to power in 1979, the Iranian rial has weakened with every instance of international tension, regional military conflict or political upheaval. On Wednesday, the exchange rate on the free market reached almost 700 thousand rials to one US dollar.

In her brief comments on the US election, Mohajerani added: “Iran has become sanctions-resistant over the past four decades and we are not concerned about Trump’s re-election. Sanctions have strengthened Iran’s domestic capabilities, and we are ready to counter them.” new sanctions.”

The prospect of tougher sanctions and increased international pressure after Trump’s re-election weighs heavily on the minds of ordinary Iranians and experts alike.

Consequences of Trump’s return to power

During his previous term, Trump unilaterally withdrew from the Iran nuclear agreement and instituted a policy of “maximum pressure,” imposing more than 1,000 sanctions on Iran during his four years in office. This position has generated both supporters and opponents of Trump among Iranians.

One of Trump’s supporters, Masih Alinejad, an Iranian activist in exile in the United States, publicly welcomed Trump’s victory.

In a post on the social network X Alinejad congratulated Trump, emphasizing: “Congratulations to President-elect Donald Trump on your clear victory… We call on you to isolate the Islamic Republic, cut off its means of survival and ban its lobbyists from appearing in international circles.”

Iranian dissidents in exile weren’t the only ones happy about Trump’s victory; many inside Iran who support regime change also appear satisfied.

This was reported by a 42-year-old pharmacist who wished to remain anonymous. New Arab reasons for celebrating Trump’s victory: “As before, Trump will increase pressure on the regime. Given the recent tensions between Iran and Israel, a military attack against Iran may even be planned.”

When asked about Iran’s potential fate in such a scenario, possibly suffering like Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya or Syria, he replied: “I don’t care what happens as long as there is no Islamic Republic.”

However, not all government critics shared this view. Many were concerned about the consequences of Trump’s return to the White House. They believed that an aggressive policy towards Iran would increase political and economic hardship for ordinary citizens and dissidents.

According to this view, Trump’s maximum pressure strategy led to severe economic hardship for the public while the regime continued to circumvent sanctions to survive.

A retired civil servant in Tehran expressed concern about TNA“I am very concerned about this result. This means new economic difficulties and an increased risk of war with Israel.”

No concern for the Iranian people

Political science professor and government critic Sadegh Zibakalam shares these concerns. An advocate of closer engagement with the West, he was repeatedly prosecuted for his views. Zibakalam considered Trump’s presence in the White House a threat to Iranians.

Reacting to Trump’s victory, he wrote“Congratulations to the (Iranian) opposition who support attacks on Iran… let’s see how Trump – racist, anti-women, anti-black, anti-immigrant, anti-Latino, anti-Palestinian and anti-Muslim – will promote democracy and improve human rights in Iran“

Beyond these polarized opinions, some Iranians see little difference between Democrats and Republicans when it comes to U.S. foreign policy.

A 21-year-old engineering student from Tehran noted: TNA“American foreign policy is not determined by who is in the White House; Neither Democrats nor Republicans care about the Iranian people. They both pursue their own interests.”

Sofia Nasrollahi, an experienced journalist from Tehran, voiced similar opinion about X: “A world in which Trump becoming president of the most powerful country for the second time, with a high turnout, is too confusing to take seriously.”