TEHRAN, Iran — The Iranian administration appears to be reacting favorably to some recent U.S. policies, despite the context surrounding those decisions involving a figure who reportedly has been targeted for assassination by Iranian operatives.
President Donald Trump’s initiative to freeze overseas aid and potentially dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has been praised in various Iranian state media outlets.
Reports indicate that such moves are expected to halt the funding that supports dissidents and pro-democracy activists opposing Iran’s Shiite theocratic regime, which has been bolstered through U.S. efforts promoting democracy globally.
Simultaneously, Iranian leaders seem to be conveying that they are awaiting a message from Trump regarding potential negotiations about Iran’s burgeoning nuclear activities. The discussions could hinge on billions of dollars that are currently being withheld from Iran due to stringent sanctions, as well as the future of a program that may soon begin enriching uranium to a weapons-grade level.
Even while enacting an executive order to reestablish his strategy of “maximum pressure on Iran,” Trump implied a willingness to engage with Tehran.
Meanwhile, ordinary citizens in Iran express concern over the implications of these developments.
“It empowers hard-liners within Iran to continue suppressing dissent, as they believe the U.S. poses less threat to those seeking freedom in Iran,” remarked Maryam Faraji, a 27-year-old waitress based in northern Tehran.
State-controlled media outlets in Iran reported that Trump’s funding cuts could effectively stifle the opposition movement within the country.
The state-run IRNA news agency noted that the reduction in budget for foreign-based opposition groups could negatively influence relations between Tehran and Washington.
Several newspapers, including the conservative Hamshahri daily, characterized Iran’s opposition as “counterrevolutionaries” who had previously celebrated Trump’s victory, believing it would mark the end of the Islamic Republic.
They noted that these groups felt the shock of losing financial backing from their “employer” following Trump’s decisions.
Even reformist media, like Hammihan, equated the funding cuts to a “cold shower” for Iranian dissidents abroad, a sentiment echoed by the Foreign Ministry.
“These resources are not mere charity; they are payments exchanged for services,” clarified Esmail Bagahei, the spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, during a press conference on Monday.
He added, “This exemplifies America’s meddlesome agenda, particularly during the Biden administration, which attempted to pressure Iran and interfere in its domestic affairs through financial aid.”
The impact of USAID’s decision on the funding of Iranian activists and opposition members remains uncertain.
Historically, most financial support for civil society in Iran has originated from the U.S. State Department’s Near East Regional Democracy fund (NERD), which was established partly in response to the Green Movement protests of 2009.
For the fiscal year 2024, the Biden administration requested $65 million for NERD, following over $600 million previously allocated by Congress for the same fund, according to Congressional research data. This funding has been used for training journalists and activists, even providing internet access during government-enforced disruptions.
The State Department did not provide comments regarding the future of the NERD funding. American officials have historically kept grant recipients confidential due to the perceived risks posed to activists from Iranian authorities, particularly given alleged instances of Iranian intelligence attempting kidnappings or assassination plots, as indicated by U.S. prosecutors.
Iran has also taken note of the U.S. refraining from openly criticizing its regime during a recent United Nations Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva. For Iranian officials, this lack of condemnation may signal Trump’s willingness to engage in negotiations, a topic he frequently brought up during his campaign.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who holds ultimate authority over Iranian state issues, recently expressed in a speech the potential for talks with the U.S., suggesting there was “no harm” in conversing with the “enemy.” However, he later warned that hidden agendas could still be present behind diplomatic gestures.
“We must be cautious about who we engage with, who we negotiate with, and what discussions we partake in,” Khamenei stated last week.
Bagahei acknowledged that Iran has not yet perceived any definitive confirmation for negotiations but emphasized that Iran is making efforts to indicate its willingness to participate in discussions.
Additionally, President Masoud Pezeshkian, known for his outreach-oriented campaign, called for officials to heed the collective opinion of the Iranian populace and refrain from brutal crackdowns similar to those that followed the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini.
“Foreign adversaries aim to instigate discord within our nation, hoping to incite protests they can leverage,” Pezeshkian asserted.
When signing the executive order on Iran, Trump warned of severe consequences if he were to be killed by Tehran, yet he also expressed hope for negotiations. “I’m going to sign it, but let’s hope we don’t have to use it very often,” he stated in the Oval Office, adding, “We will see if an arrangement can be made with Iran.”
“We certainly do not wish to adopt a hardline approach toward Iran or anyone else,” Trump continued, emphasizing that Tehran should not possess nuclear weapons.
Nonetheless, significant factions within Iran’s theocracy are likely to resist negotiations, driven either by self-interest or resentment stemming from Trump’s 2020 drone strike that eliminated General Qassem Soleimani, a highly regarded military figure in Iran.
This assassination has led to intensified calls within Iran for retaliation against Trump, along with alleged plots for his assassination. The Justice Department revealed in November that an Iranian murder-for-hire scheme targeting Trump had been uncovered. Iran has denied involvement despite its history of orchestrating the killings of dissidents abroad.
“This development will likely not change the stance of factions against engagement with the U.S., although some moderates may attempt to use it as leverage to argue that Trump is making moves,” commented Iranian political analyst Ahmad Zeiabadi.
For the majority of Iran’s population, currently exceeding 80 million, these discussions seem speculative and distant, as they continue to cope with the burdens of a struggling economy.
Gholanhossein Akbari, a 27-year-old taxi driver, expressed his skepticism about U.S. support for Iranian pro-democracy activists abroad. “Those of us in Iran have seen no benefits from the funding directed toward activists who only seem to generate media commentary,” Akbari stated.
Iran commends US decision to reduce foreign aid financing while seeking Trump’s stance on nuclear negotiations.
