Iranian media and politicians adopt cautious tone after Trump inauguration
Following Donald Trump's inauguration, conservative and ultraconservative Iranian dailies notably refrained from covering the future of US-Iran relations, while reformist newspapers were actively considering various strategies to engage with Washington.
Despite the silence on future ties with the US, conservative outlets prominently featured the event, with headlines dominating the dailies.
Some hardliners, such as Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi acknowledged that Trump’s presidency is likely to have profound implications for the future of the Islamic Republic.
Iran Daily, a known conduit for the Pezeshkian administration, emphasized in its detailed coverage there is still an opportunity for opening negotiations with Washington.
"Trump may choose a different policy regarding Iran, as the maximum pressure strategy failed under Biden," one of its reports read.
It omitted mention of critics' claims that US sanctions were not fully enforced during Joe Biden's presidency, which allowed Iran to boost oil exports to China and generate over $100 billion in revenue between 2021 and 2024.
In the reformist camp, both Etemad and centrist Kargozaran newspapers expressed caution about the changes in the US administration.
"The Trump administration's hardline stance on immigration is likely to create additional challenges for Iranians living in the United States," a report for Etemad noted, adding, "The new US administration will likely demand that Iran cease uranium enrichment and scale back its regional activities."
Kargozaran wrote that many attendees at the inauguration parties were "radical right-wing elements," noting that, "The entire world is watching Trump’s return with fear and concern."
Tehran's leading economic daily, Donyaye Eghtesad, presented three potential strategies for Iran in its dealings with the Trump administration: first, military confrontation, which would result in significant losses for Iran; second, rejecting negotiations, which would likely lead to maximum pressure and worsening economic hardship; and third, engaging in negotiations and direct cooperation, offering the possibility of tangible benefits for Iran.
One of the most hardline anti-US dailies, Kayhan, which had previously called for Pezeshkian to "try to kill Trump," remained silent on Tuesday.
It did, however, criticize the "tight security measures" at the inauguration ceremony.
Affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Javan newspaper refrained from commenting on the potential implications of the change in US leadership for Iran and instead provided a summary of Donald Trump's first term in office.
Another conservative daily, Jam-e Jam, criticized "Trump's unilateralism" and his views about Canada, Greenland and the Panama Canal.
Jomhouri Eslami, a conservative newspaper founded in 1979 by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, was the only conservative outlet to suggest that "Iran should take a lesson from the past and change its behavior and the way it interacts with the world."
While the publication offered this perspective, Kayhan, rather than Jomhouri Eslami, more frequently reflects Khamenei's views.
When it came to online outlets, reformist site Rouydad24 noted that nearly all segments of Iranian politics—ranging from government officials to hardliners, and even radical figures—are signaling openness to negotiations with the United States. Rouydad24 highlighted former ultraconservative lawmaker Javad Karimi Qoddousi, a staunch anti-US politician, as one of the radicals who appears to have shifted his stance on negotiations.
"Mr. Khamenei said many years ago that cutting off ties with America should not continue forever," the article quoted him as saying.
Conservative Nameh News also quoted hardliner Hossein Naqavi-Hosseini, who said, "Our problems will not be solved if we ignore the United States." Naqavi-Hosseini suggested that continued tensions with the US are likely to lead to even greater economic challenges for Iran. He added, "Iran's President and other officials have a plan for negotiations with America."
Nameh News also noted that former conservative MP Ali Motahhari said this week that "Iran should start negotiations with Washington and even be prepared to resume relations with America."
Tehran-based websites reported that reformist commentator Ahmad Zeidabadi addressed Pezeshkian in an article on his Telegram channel, urging immediate negotiations.
"Mr. Pezeshkian! What are you waiting for? The solution for lifting the sanctions is clear," he wrote. Zeidabadi also took a sarcastic jab, recalling Pezeshkian's suggestion during his recent visit to Russia that Iran, Russia, and China should join forces to sanction the United States.
