Tehran, Iran
Iran on Wednesday (Nov. 6) downplayed the outcome of the US presidential election, stating that "it does not matter" who becomes the next American president, after Donald Trump declared his victory.
In Tehran, government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani addressed reporters, stressing that Iran’s “general policies” remain steady.
"The US elections are not really our business. Our policies are steady and don't change based on individuals. We made the necessary predictions before and there will not be change in people's livelihoods," Mohajerani said, as reported by the Tasnim news agency.
Iran’s currency falls to record low against the dollar
Meanwhile, Iran’s currency, the rial, fell to a record low against the dollar on Wednesday following Trump's re-election, marking potential new challenges for Iran amid ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
Traders in Tehran reported the rial trading at 703,000 to the dollar, though the rate could vary throughout the day. Iran’s Central Bank might again introduce more foreign currency into the market to stabilise the rate, as it has done before.
US-Iran ties during Trump's presidency
Trump, who served as president from 2017 to 2021, was known for his tough stance on Iran.
During his first term, Trump reintroduced sanctions on Iran in 2018 after withdrawing from a 2015 nuclear agreement that had eased economic restrictions on Iran in return for limits on its nuclear programme.
Trump also ordered the targeted killing of Qassem Soleimani, one of Iran's top military officials and a key figure in the country's hierarchy. Soleimani, head of the IRGC's Quds Force, was killed in a US drone strike in Iraq in January 2020, along with a senior Iraqi commander.
In September, while speaking in New York, Trump mentioned he was open to resuming discussions for a new nuclear agreement. “We have to make a deal because the consequences are impossible. We have to make a deal,” he stated.
The re-imposition of US sanctions in 2018 severely affected Iran's oil exports, reducing government revenues and pushing Iran towards difficult economic measures like increasing taxes and running large budget deficits, keeping inflation close to 40% annually.
(With inputs from agencies)