Trump has said repeatedly that if he loses the November presidential election, Iran and China would “own America.” Trump reiterated that Iran, along with countries, prefers Biden victory over him.
However, Iran has made it clear many times that it does not attach importance to the victory of a certain candidate in the US election. In fact, Iranian officials have stated that it does not matter for them who will win the November election.
Some analysts and commentators have claimed that Iran prefers the election of Biden because he would reenter the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and other world powers if he is elected. These analysts argue that Biden’s election means, Trump’s maximum pressure campaign against Iran would come to an end.
The US intelligence community also strengthened the narrative of Iran preferring a Biden victory. In a statement, William Evanina, the chief of the National Counter-Intelligence and Security Center, alleged that Iran seeks to undermine President Trump.
“We assess that Iran seeks to undermine US democratic institutions and to divide the country in advance of the 2020 elections by spreading disinformation,” Evanina said.
Tehran’s motivation to conduct such activities is driven by a perception that President Trump’s reelection would result in a continuation of US pressure on Iran in an effort to foment regime change.
“Democrats are not better than the Republicans. The only
difference is that President Obama worked quietly, while Trump works
vociferously. These sanctions have been imposed by the Democrats especially
under Obama, said Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior advisor to the Leader of the
Islamic Revolution on international affairs.
The regime change policy is nothing new in the US foreign policy. The US has
pursued this policy against many countries. It launched military campaigns to
overthrow the regimes of Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya. In addition to overt
military campaigns, the US has also launched covert operations to topple
political systems in Iran, Venezuela, and Syria. The government of Mohammad
Mosaddeq, the first democratically-elected prime minister of Iran was toppled
in 1953 in a CIA and MI6 orchestrated coup.
During and after the revolution, the US sought to topple the newly established
Islamic Republic. The policy of regime change in Iran once again gained steam
in Washington’s foreign policy circles after it became clear that the US has
forever lost its grip on Iran.
The US imposed sanctions, which still remain in place. Trump has increased the sanctions pressure on Iran to an unprecedented level, a move widely seen as a way to overthrow the government of Iran through fomenting social unrest across the country.