Iranian Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei Reacts to Trump’s Victory

In a pointed and resolute statement, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei responded to the outcome of the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election, emphasizing that Iran’s policies toward the United States would remain unchanged regardless of who occupies the White House. Khamenei, known for his unwavering stance against the U.S., declared, “Who wins the election in America doesn’t matter to us, we simply don’t care at all.”

His comments were a clear reflection of Iran’s long-standing distrust of the U.S. political system and its foreign policies. For Khamenei, the identity of the U.S. president is secondary to the broader ideological opposition between the Islamic Republic and Western powers, especially the United States. The Supreme Leader stressed that Iran’s approach to the West, and particularly to the U.S., would not be swayed by the results of an election.

Khamenei’s critique of the United States centered on what he described as the country’s corrupt and warmongering nature. He accused the U.S. of hypocrisy, noting that it often speaks of peace and democracy but has engaged in wars and military interventions that have caused immense destruction and loss of life. Drawing on historical examples, Khamenei referenced the U.S.-led invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, labeling them as prime examples of American aggression that devastated entire nations for geopolitical gain.

These actions, according to Khamenei, are symptomatic of a larger pattern in which the U.S. behaves as a “mafia” and uses its military-industrial complex to further its interests, often at the expense of global peace and stability. This rhetoric reinforces the longstanding narrative in Iranian political discourse that the U.S. is a destabilizing force in the world.

Moreover, Khamenei extended his condemnation to the U.S. role in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. He claimed that America had manipulated Ukraine into waging a war against Russia, one that he believed the Ukrainians could never win.

This sentiment mirrors a broader view held by some in Iran and other countries who see the war in Ukraine as a proxy conflict driven by Western powers, rather than a struggle for Ukrainian sovereignty or a legitimate defense against Russian aggression. Khamenei’s words sought to highlight what he perceives as the U.S. government’s willingness to prolong conflicts for strategic purposes, even when it leads to unnecessary suffering and loss of life.

The most pointed part of Khamenei’s remarks, however, was his continued opposition to U.S. support for Israel, which he referred to as the “Zionist regime.” For decades, Iran has been a vocal critic of Israel, viewing it as an illegitimate state and a key U.S. ally in the Middle East.

Khamenei’s statement underscored the unwavering commitment of the Iranian government to oppose Israeli policies, particularly those related to the Palestinian territories. He accused the U.S. of unconditionally supporting Israel’s “war crimes and crimes against humanity,” a charge that is frequently leveled by Iranian leaders in their condemnation of Israel’s actions, particularly in Gaza and the West Bank. This rhetoric is part of a broader Iranian strategy to position itself as the champion of Palestinian rights and to rally the Muslim world against perceived Western imperialism.

In sum, Ayatollah Khamenei’s reaction to the U.S. election underscores the ideological divide between Iran and the United States. While the outcome of the election may have been significant to many around the world, for Khamenei and the Iranian leadership, the identity of the U.S. president is largely irrelevant.

What matters, in their view, is the continuation of policies that challenge U.S. hegemony and expose the contradictions of American foreign policy. The remarks also serve as a reminder that, despite changes in leadership in Washington, Iran’s stance on the West—particularly the U.S.—remains firmly rooted in its broader vision of resistance to imperialism and its commitment to opposing the U.S.’s alliances in the Middle East.