El-Sayed on Iran Regime Condemnation
In a recent ABC News interview released on Monday, Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate from Michigan, addressed whether he would condemn Iran’s current regime. He noted that the idea of “condemning or not condemning” is somewhat strange. “I have condemned the genocide perpetrated by Israel. I’ve also condemned apartheid. Iran has attacked democracy, and I condemn that too. But we live in a world where we need to find ways to engage with those we might not agree with,” he stated. El-Sayed expressed a desire for peace with Iran, similar to actions taken by President Obama, and emphasized the importance of addressing the support for atrocities happening globally.
Host Linsey Davis then prompted him, asking directly, “[F]or those who do want to hear, do you condemn the current Iranian regime? What do you say?”
El-Sayed replied, “There’s no doubt they’ve committed horrific acts. I advocate for democracy and human rights; we deserve that, and so does everyone else. This regime has indeed acted terribly. That is not up for debate. However, the more significant question is about our interests. If we remember the Obama administration, they successfully negotiated the JCPOA, which helped contain the nuclear threat and paved the way toward peace. That was positive, and we should aim for similar outcomes, right? Yet, after two terms of Trump, we’ve dismantled the JCPOA, resulting in a war situation. So yes, we are currently at war with Iran, and yes, they are considered an enemy in that context. But is this truly where we want our foreign policy to head? The question shouldn’t merely be a binary yes or no regarding condemnation, but rather, we should reflect on what we should have done differently. The JCPOA offered a route for nuclear containment and peace, and we should’ve avoided war altogether. The goals have shifted, and we’ve achieved little.”
Davis pressed on, “But to clarify, if you had to choose, do you condemn the current Iranian regime?”
El-Sayed responded, “I do condemn many of their actions, but advocating for peace requires you to find ways to initiate it. I also condemn Saudi Arabia’s human rights violations, but that isn’t the focus of our conversation. Many foreign governments have committed condemnable actions, and our focus should be on how we further our values while fostering peace. The binary approach of condemnation feels misplaced. I’ve condemned acts from both Israel and Iran, but ultimately, we must engage with those we disagree with, which is what diplomacy is about. The essential question is how we create a pathway to peace. Much like Obama’s administration, I want us to seek peace with Iran, plus address instances of genocide and apartheid elsewhere. We really should reflect on our values and how we promote democracy globally.”
