Iran’s Supreme Leader pokes fun at US presidential elections

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• During an address on Tuesday, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ridiculed the US presidential election, quoting President Donald Trump’s claims of ‘voter fraud’ allegation.
• Khamenei also said that the election results would not impact Iran’s policy at any point.
• Trump has repeatedly claimed that mail-in voting is prone to fraud and cheating.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah  Ali Khamenei on Tuesday poked fun at the US presidential election, citing the ‘voter fraud’ allegation of President Donald Trump.

According to the Associated Press, Khamenei cited Iran’s long-standing position that the US election result “is none of our business, meaning it won’t influence our policy at all,” during a televised speech.

Citing Trump’s repeated allegation of massive voter fraud, Khamenei said that the election would be “interesting to watch.”

“The incumbent president, who is supposed to hold the elections, says this is the most-rigged U.S. election throughout history,” Khamenei said. 

“Who says this? The sitting president who is arranging the elections himself. His opponent says Trump intends to widely cheat. This is American democracy.”

The Iranian leader did not mention that each US state dictates the voting result, the AP reported.

According to Khamenei, Iranian policy is “clear and well-calculated and people coming and going will have no impact on it.”

Based on the AP report, Khamenei’s remarks came before the November 4, 1979 (41st anniversary) of the US Embassy takeover in Tehran, marking the infamous 444-day hostage crisis that has long impacted the relationship of the two nations until now.

“Such an empire will not last long. It’s obvious that when a regime reaches this point, it will not live for much longer and will be destroyed. Of course, some of them, if they take office, will destroy America sooner, and some others, if elected, will cause America to be destroyed a bit later,” Khamenei argued about the US.

The scheduled event celebration was canceled amid the continuous coronavirus outbreak.

In months, Trump has repeatedly claimed that mail-in ballot is susceptible to fraud and cheating.

He also expressed his refusal of having a peaceful transition of power if Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden wins the presidency.

Election experts have repeatedly debunked Trump’s statements, arguing that there has never been evidence of voter fraud through mail-in voting. In fact, Trump’s appointed FBI director said that there is no proof against a “coordinated national voter fraud effort in a major election whether it’s by mail or otherwise.”

Given the strong opposing campaign season, federal officials as well as businesses are anticipating potential unrest following the election results.

Source: The Hill