As Donald Trump celebrated his historic victory in the US Presidential election, receiving congratulatory calls from world leaders, the response from West Asia was a mix of cautious optimism and outright skepticism.
Iran, a long-time antagonist of the United States, reacted with a distinct lack of enthusiasm. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared that the election results held no significance for the Islamic Republic, stating, “It makes no difference to us who won the US election.” He added that Iran prioritized developing relations with Islamic and neighboring countries.
While Trump’s victory speech promised to “stop all wars”, a sentiment he echoed throughout his campaign, Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite militant group, remained unconvinced. Hezbollah lawmaker Ibrahim al-Moussawi expressed skepticism, stating, “It might be a change in the party who is in power, but when it comes to Israel, they have more or less the same policy.”
Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group, voiced even stronger criticism, with a leader telling AFP that the US under Trump should not “blindly support” Israel, a policy they felt continued under Joe Biden’s presidency. “This blind support for the Zionist entity must end because it comes at the expense of the future of our people and the security and stability of the region,” declared Bassem Naim, a member of Hamas’s political bureau.
However, not all reactions in West Asia were negative. The Palestinian Authority, under President Mahmoud Abbas, welcomed Trump’s victory, expressing confidence that the US would support the “legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people” under his leadership.
The diverse reactions from West Asian leaders highlight the complex and often contentious relationship between the region and the United States. While some see Trump’s victory as a chance for a fresh start, others remain wary of potential changes in US policy towards the region, particularly regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
