Michigan Student Challenges Senate Candidate on Iran

During a town hall at the University of Michigan on Wednesday, a student named Iman Dashti confronted Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, about his views on Iran. Dashti, who described himself as Persian, shared that his family had experienced persecution under the Iranian regime.

“My cousin was hunted in the streets of Iran by the IRGC because her hijab wasn’t on right,” he recounted. “And my uncle received a death sentence along with 50 lashes.” This personal connection to the issues raised the stakes of his questions to El-Sayed.

Dashti also brought up previously leaked audio where El-Sayed refrained from commenting on the former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death, stating that “there are a lot of people in Dearborn who are sad today.” Dashti expressed that such silence created a “gaping hole” in the community’s response.

He pressed El-Sayed on whether he regretted his previous silence, if he would distance himself from those who mourned Khamenei, and whether he firmly opposed the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the government of Iran itself.

In his response, El-Sayed emphasized that the United States tends to play the role of “the world’s policeman,” adding that while he supports movements advocating for democracy and freedom abroad, he does not favor U.S.-led regime change. “I will always stand for and with democratic movements,” he asserted, while maintaining that the responsibility for leadership changes in Iran ultimately lies with the Iranian people.

Dashti again sought clarity, asking, “You stand with us?” El-Sayed reiterated his support for freedom and democracy but cautioned against American intervention in regime change, stating, “We should not be in the business of regime change.” He concluded by expressing his desire for the Iranian people to determine their own path toward democratic change.

This exchange was just one of several significant interactions at the “Students vs. Billionaires” town hall, which drew considerable attention. El-Sayed, who recently won the Democratic primary, is preparing for a competitive race against Republican candidate Mike Rogers, amid a backdrop of national interest in the election.

El-Sayed also took the opportunity to discuss public health and made a statement about the future, hinting at his hope to work with a female Democratic president in 2029, though he didn’t specify who that might be.

As the event unfolded, he criticized both former President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance for their remarks about him, suggesting they could not even pronounce his name correctly. “This is a teaching opportunity,” he added humorously.

Before closing, El-Sayed’s campaign spokesperson noted that he condemns anti-free speech violence and believes U.S. tax dollars should be prioritized for domestic issues, such as infrastructure and healthcare, rather than overseas regime change wars.