The Iranian people will not be affected by the US election, government spokeswoman Fathemeh Mohajerani said today, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency, after Donald Trump declared victory in the US presidential election.
Arab and Western officials have told Reuters that Trump may resume his “policy of maximum pressure” through enhanced sanctions on Iran’s oil industry and encourage Israel to strike its nuclear facilities and carry out “targeted assassinations.”
“The US election is none of our business. Our policies are fixed and don’t change depending on individuals. We made provisions beforehand and there will be no change in the livelihood of our people,” Mohajerani said, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.
During his first term, Trump reinstated sanctions against Iran after withdrawing the US from the 2015 nuclear deal reached between Iran and world powers that curbed Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for economic benefits.
The reimposition of US sanctions in 2018 hit Iran’s oil exports, drastically curtailed government revenues, and forced the government to take unpopular measures such as raising taxes and managing high budget deficits, policies that have led to inflation remaining near 40%.
Iran’s currency has weakened at the prospect of a Trump presidency, reaching an all-time low of 700,000 rials against the U.S. dollar on the open market, according to Bonbast.com, a website that tracks Iranian currency exchange rates.
