It’s truly a head-scratcher why the Biden administration would permit Iranian citizens to cast votes for Iran’s presidential “election” on American soil, given the current geopolitical tensions and Iran’s well-documented hostility towards Israel and its broader destabilizing activities in the Middle East. This move strikes many as a bizarre and misguided gesture of openness towards a regime that not only crushes dissent within its own borders but is also an avowed state sponsor of terrorism.
Masoud Pezeshkian, dubbed a “reformer,” won the presidency, but let’s be clear: the term “reformer” in the context of Iranian politics is a gross misnomer. The presidency under the iron grip of the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is largely ceremonial, with any candidate participating in the election pre-approved by the regime itself. This is less an election and more a theatrical endorsement of a foregone conclusion, reinforcing the authoritarian rule rather than challenging it.
Hosting these elections in U.S. states—from Nebraska to California and New York to Texas—represents a troubling contradiction. How can the U.S. justify facilitating a process that fundamentally mocks the democratic principles we hold dear? This isn’t just about the logistical paradox of allowing a foreign power, hostile to many U.S. allies, to conduct its so-called electoral process on our ground. It’s about the message it sends at a time when Iran is funding conflicts against Israel, a key U.S. ally, and showing aggressive postures in international waters.
Critics have rightly pointed out the absurdity of the situation. Allowing a regime that holds American citizens hostage and consistently threatens our interests and allies to operate politically within our borders is not just a diplomatic faux pas; it’s a potential security risk. The Biden administration’s decision is a misstep that needs rectification, not a precedent we should maintain. Actions like these do not represent meaningful diplomatic engagement; they are capitulations to a regime that has shown time and again it is not interested in genuine reform or respect for the international norms of human rights and liberty.
This episode ought to be a blaring wake-up call to Americans about where the Biden administration‘s priorities truly lie. Instead of steadfastly safeguarding American interests and bolstering our allies, particularly those feeling the brunt of Iran’s belligerence, this administration seems more concerned with offering symbolic concessions. These gestures do nothing but embolden a regime that stands fundamentally opposed to democratic values and American principles.
