Iran’s State-Censored Media Divided on President-Elect Trump

Iran’s state-censored media appears divided on the prospects for President-elect Donald J. Trump’s Iran policy. The exception is Kayhan newspaper, a mouthpiece of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s, which claims there will be no difference in Iran’s relations with the United State regardless of who is president. 

• November 7: Kayhan newspaper, on its front page wrote:  
  • “America is the great Satan, regardless of who is the president.” 
• November 7: Reformist Ham-Mihan newspaper published an editorial warning readers against making a prejudiced assessment of Trump:  
  • “In Iran, Trump is known for his withdrawal from the nuclear agreement and for martyring Major General Qassim Suleimani … But unlike his predecessors, Trump is inclined to stay away from regional wars, a promise he has consistently made in the course of the campaign. A regional war is indeed the most dangerous phenomenon imaginable today. This does not mean there will be no tensions under Trump, but we should not be prejudiced against him.”  
• November 7: Ham-Mihan columnist Hani Rastegaran wrote in an analysis of the presidential election in the United States:  
  • “Relations between the United States and Iran will either move toward an all-out war or toward a constructive and viable dialogue. The Islamic Republic will not experience anything between the two extremes.” 
• November 7: Kargozaran, a technocratic newspaper, published an editorial on the U.S. presidential election: 
  • “Will Iran be subject to harsher sanctions when Trump returns to the White House …? Last time around, Iran exported oil to a large number of countries, and he easily managed to reduce Iran’s oil exports. However, more than 90% of Iran’s oil is exported to China, which makes it harder for him to sanction Iran … Nevertheless, if Trump manages to reduce Iran’s oil revenue, the Cabinet will experience a budget deficit, and the rial will further collapse against the U.S. dollar.”  
• November 7: Reformist Etemad published expert commentary on the return of Trump to the White House:  
  • Abd al-Reza Faraji-Rad wrote: “No need to worry. Trump’s psychology is not a war-seeking one as demonstrated during his first four years in office.” 
  • Ali Ahangar wrote: “Iran was clever not to make a nuclear agreement with the interim administration of President Joe Biden.” 
  • Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh wrote: “Trump’s return is like the return of the Taliban: Both pursue the same objectives but with different means second time around.” 
• November 7: Reformist Shargh Daily also published commentary: 
  • Jafar Haqpanah wrote: “Trump is in cahoots with AIPAC,” the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. “We ought not fear Trump himself but his foreign policy and defense team.” 
  • Jafar Qanadbashi wrote: “Trump’s return to the White House is not a threat … He is a businessman, and he will not move toward increased tensions with Iran.” 
  • Jalal Mirzaei, a former parliamentarian, wrote: “Trump being an opportunity or a threat depends on Iran’s behavior … If Iran manages to recalibrate some of its policies and pursue an active and smart policy, the threat of Trump can be turned into an opportunity.” 

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