For many Iranians, Trump’s return intensifies worries about war. Yet some see reasons for hope

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iranians, for illustration galore astir nan world, are divided connected what Donald Trump’s next presidency will bring: Some foresee an all-out warfare betwixt Tehran and Washington, peculiarly arsenic different conflicts rage successful nan region. Others clasp retired dream that America’s 47th president mightiness prosecute successful unexpected diplomacy arsenic he did pinch North Korea.

But astir each judge thing will alteration successful nan U.S.-Iran relationship.

“Trump will usage tougher levers against Iran,” warned Ahmad Zeidabadi, a governmental analyst. “Iranian officials will support rejecting him and that could make him escalate his pressure.”

And while Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has last opportunity connected each matters of state, has many times expressed his ain disgust pinch Trump, Iran’s caller reformist president has kept nan doorway unfastened to talks pinch Trump to activity alleviation from world sanctions to buoy a cratering economy. The Iranian rial, successful a free autumn for years, hit its lowest worth against nan dollar connected Wednesday earlier somewhat recovering.

The U.S. and Iran person had an adversarial narration since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution and nan takeover of nan U.S. Embassy and 444-day hostage crisis that followed.

Trump’s first word successful agency was marked by a peculiarly troubled period, erstwhile he pursued a argumentation of “maximum pressure” against Tehran. He unilaterally withdrew America from Iran’s atomic woody pinch world powers, starring to nan sanctions hobbling nan economy, and ordered nan killing of nan country’s apical general.

Confirmation of Trump’s reelection came excessively precocious for astir Wednesday papers. On Thursday, hewing to nan charismatic line, galore decried nan victory. The newspaper Hamshahri put an artist’s rendering of Trump successful an orangish situation jumpsuit and handcuffs nether nan headline: “Return of nan murderer.” The hard-line Javan newspaper said it was “back to nan crime scene.”

On nan streets of Tehran, opinions varied more. Some feared a return to nan debased points of Trump’s first presidency. Others expressed joy.

“I’m very happy that Trump has won because he is really a powerful man,” said Fatemeh Kaveh, 40. “I spot him arsenic a domiciled exemplary successful position of personality, and I ever watch his stories (on societal media), and I judge successful him. I’m very happy he won.”

But nan 1 sentiment that matters supra each successful Iran’s theocracy is that of Khamenei, who has been nan country’s paramount ruler for six American presidencies. He has made his views connected Trump clear.

“I do not see Trump arsenic a personification worthy exchanging immoderate connection pinch and I person nary reply for him, nor will I respond to him successful nan future,” Khamenei told nan precocious Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe successful 2019. Those comments came a twelvemonth aft Trump withdrew nan U.S. from nan atomic accord, which offered Iran alleviation from world sanctions successful return for restrictions meant to forestall it from building an atomic bomb.

Then came Trump’s determination to assassinate Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, a salient fig wrong Iran, successful a 2020 drone onslaught successful Baghdad.

Khamenei’s individual website still hosts a video that imagines Trump being killed successful an Iranian drone onslaught arsenic he plays play pinch erstwhile U.S. Secretary of State and CIA main Mike Pompeo. Both men person received further protection complete Iranian threats to their lives — and nan state has been accused of hacking Trump run associates successful hopes of hurting his prospects. Iranians person besides not forgotten Soleimani’s killing.

“It is simply a bully clip for Iran to retaliate — nan murderer of our leader has travel back,” said Tehran resident Reza Solatani, 39. “He should yet salary for his crime.”

The mobility now is really that hard-line attack will fare amid nan economical situation and different challenges.

A drawstring of wide protests person escalated successful nan past fewer years, astir precocious pinch the 2022 decease of Mahsa Amini and women rejecting nan state-mandated headscarf, aliases hijab.

Iran remains locked successful the Mideast wars roiling nan region, and its leaders person threatened a retaliatory onslaught after Israel’s Oct. 26 attack. It friends are battered, including nan militant groups of its self-described “Axis of Resistance,” for illustration Hamas, Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthi rebels. Support for those groups while Iranians struggle economically has been a protestation cry.

Trump’s predetermination intends “peace will return to Lebanon and Gaza and Iran will not walk our money there,” said Zohreh Naghavi, a 36-year-old who useful successful a clothing store. “It is bully news.”

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who will people his first 100 days successful agency adjacent week, campaigned connected a committedness of outreach to nan West to assistance sanctions complete Iran’s atomic programme — which now enriches uranium to adjacent weapons-grade levels.

On Thursday, Pezeshkian appeared to stay unfastened to talks pinch Washington — moreover successful nan aftermath of Trump’s triumph — saying that “it doesn’t matter who has won nan U.S elections.”

“We will successful nary measurement person a closed and constricted attack successful nan description of ties pinch different countries,” he said, according to nan state-run IRNA news agency.

That leaves unfastened nan anticipation for negotiations. Trump successful his first word famously courted North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Some Iranians person imagined nan president-elect doing nan aforesaid successful Tehran.

“Because Trump is simply a showman he mightiness denote that he wants to talk to Pezeshkian successful person,” said Zeidabadi, nan analyst. “Unfortunately, nan problem is that (the government) can’t judge that. Even if immoderate group successful nan authorities are willing successful doing that, nan mostly of hard-liners won’t fto that hap and this tin make Trump much angry too.”

Still, immoderate consciousness Iran already is astatine its breaking point.

“I deliberation Iran has nary prime but to make bid pinch Trump, considering nan business of nan dollar (exchange rate) and nan livelihoods of group and nan precocious prices,” said Sina Khaledian, a 32-year-old nurse. “There is deficiency of medicine and wellness care. They person to do this. I deliberation nan country’s capacity to strengthen has been exhausted.”

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