Trump's victory pressures Tehran on nuclear strategy

"Investigations revealed that she is experiencing family and psychological challenges and is currently receiving treatment with her family’s support," science minister Hossein Simaei Sarraf said.

Sarraf provided no additional details about the woman’s medical diagnosis, the reasons for her treatment or where it is taking place.

Footage widely circulated on Saturday showing the woman in her underwear at Tehran's Azad University, with officers eventually forcibly detaining her. A university official later said that the student was sent to a police station due to "severe psychological distress."

The incident ignited an online backlash, with many viewing it as a familiar tactic by authorities to delegitimize female protesters by portraying them as mentally unstable.

Meanwhile, government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani denied reports of any harsh confrontation, saying during a Wednesday press briefing: "The situation was handled very well. There was no harsh confrontation, and she was transferred via social emergency services," she told reporters.

Amnesty Iran has called for the immediate and unconditional release of the student, urging authorities to safeguard her from mistreatment while in custody.

“Authorities must protect her from torture and other ill-treatment and ensure access to (her) family and (a) lawyer,” wrote Amnesty Iran on X.

Rights groups since the crackdowns on the Women, Life, Freedom protests which saw women defying hijab mandates have highlighted allegations of abuse in prison.

"Allegations of beatings and sexual violence against her during arrest require independent and impartial investigation. Those responsible must be held accountable,” the group added.

Former foreign minister Israel Katz was made defense minister on Tuesday night after Israel’s premier fired Yoav Gallant after a long-running feud between the two.

Katz, known for his outspoken, right-wing views, wrote on X: “Congratulations to President-Elect Donald Trump on his historic victory. Together, we'll strengthen the US-Israel alliance, bring back the hostages, and stand firm to defeat the axis of evil led by Iran.”

Israelis had been waiting anxiously for the results to come in, feeling Trump was the only ally to have in the face of confrontation with Iran and war of attrition with its proxies Hamas and Hezbollah.

Israeli Ruth Cohen, a Netanyahu supporter, told Iran International: “This is such a relief. Waking up to this news that we have Trump makes me feel a lot safer.”

Jean Arnold, an American Christian who splits her time between Israel and the US, was also relieved at the news. “I think Israel is safer now under Trump,” she told Iran International.

“He’s not my first choice domestically but there is no other option in the current climate who can protect Israel the way I think Trump can.”

Trump was tough with Iran during his first term and many expect him to use the same pressure tactics against Tehran that he used from May 2018 to the end of his term. In addition to pulling out of the JCPOA nuclear agreement during his time in office, in 2020, Trump ordered the assassination of Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani.

Taking out the man responsible for the deaths of multiple US personnel in addition to orchestrating terror attacks globally, made Trump and his administration targets for retaliatory killings by the Iranian security forces.

On being assigned the role of defense minister, Katz also used it as a chance to highlight the country’s major threat, Iran, which in addition to launching direct attacks on the Jewish state this year, is supporting militias fighting Israel from Yemen, Lebanon, Iraq and Syria, amid the war in Gaza.

“We will work together to march the security system to victory against our enemies and to achieve the goals of the war: the return of all the abductees as the most important value mission, the destruction of Hamas in Gaza, the defeat of Hezbollah in Lebanon, the containment of Iranian aggression and the return of the residents of the north and south to their homes in safety,” the long-time Netanyahu ally wrote on X after the news sent shockwaves through Israel.

Riots broke out on the streets of Israel after Gallant’s dismissal was made public. Long seen as a peacemaker, his departure bodes for a more radical approach to Israel’s military policy, led predominantly by Netanyahu.

Former parliament member Ksenia Svetlova scolded Katz after the announcement calling him a puppet for the PM. “Netanyahu has full confidence in the fact … that you won't dare to open your mouth and object even if he pours hot tea down your pants,” she wrote on X.

Israel is still waiting for a promised retaliation from Iran for an aerial bombardment last month which disabled large swathes of Iran's air defenses and according to the Israeli military, left Iran vulnerable to further aerial penetration.

Reported by the Washington Free Beacon, it points to growing tensions over transparency in the handling of Malley’s case amid an ongoing FBI investigation into his alleged mishandling of classified information.

Malley, suspended in 2023, is under FBI investigation for mishandling classified information. CASA claims the State Department has ignored Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for related documents.

“The State Department has blocked CASA's investigation for nearly seven months, ignoring a series of Freedom of Information Act requests aimed at unearthing details about the circumstances surrounding Malley's suspension and subsequent efforts to hide his misdeeds from Congress,” The Washington Free Beacon reported on Tuesday.

CASA’s lawsuit seeks to obtain internal communications detailing Malley’s suspension, his security clearance revocation, and potential breaches. The group also requested documents from the National Archives related to Malley’s previous government roles, which it says could reveal longstanding interactions with Iranian officials.

Malley was placed on unpaid leave, and his security clearance was suspended in April 2023. Iran International first reported the incident in June, but the State Department has since obstructed all efforts to obtain further information on Malley’s case.

In May, two influential congressmen suggested that Malley’s security clearance was revoked due to his transfer of classified documents to his personal email and cell phone, which were then stolen by a hostile cyber actor.

In September, a Wall Street Journal report stated that “Malley had clicked on a phishing link, compromising a personal email account.” Citing sources familiar with the matter, the report also revealed that investigators found evidence suggesting “Malley had potentially moved classified material, including meeting notes, to a personal account.”

CASA’s director, James Fitzpatrick, said the public "has a right to know" about potential security risks tied to Malley’s alleged actions.

State-controlled media interpreted Khamenei’s response as a positive answer to the young man's question. However, within hours, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, who had previously stated, “The nature of the Islamic Republic is peaceful, but we will be armed with anything needed to defend Iran,” backtracked, clarifying, “We rule out weapons of mass destruction, but we will be armed with whatever is necessary.”

Iran’s military and regional influence has recently weakened, as Israel has significantly degraded Hamas and Hezbollah’s capabilities and launched an offensive strike on Iran on October 26 with dozens of warplanes. In response, Islamic ruling establishment's officials and commentators in Tehran have hinted at possible shifts in military doctrine, including the potential pursuit of nuclear weapons.

On November 1, Iran’s former foreign minister and currently an advisor to Khamenei, Kamal Kharrazi said in an interview that "If the Islamic Republic of Iran faces an existential threat, we would have no choice but to adjust our military doctrine.”

Subsequently, political observers from various insider factions came up with their own justifications and denials about the Islamic Republic's plans to make nuclear bombs.

Hardline commentator Abbas Salimi-Namin stated, “We are not bluffing about making nuclear weapons, but we do not believe in it!” He continued, “We have conventional weapons to defend ourselves with dignity. At the same time, we are on course to end the Zionist regime at the lowest possible cost.”

Salimi-Namin clarified that Kamal Kharrazi was not suggesting a shift in Iran’s nuclear doctrine. Instead, he indicated that Iran does not intend to address the issue of Israel through military force. “Although we have the [nuclear] capability, we adhere to our previously declared position of not using nuclear weapons,” he stated.

This reflects a retreat by both an official close to Khamenei and a hardline commentator from earlier bold statements about potentially going nuclear.

Salimi-Namin also reiterated that Iran’s solution for the Palestinian issue remains a referendum. “We believe in this approach and do not need nuclear weapons,” he emphasized.

He added that Iran has only acted in response to aggression and argued that it is in the West’s interest to control Israel, as global condemnation of Israel also implicates the United States.

Centrist politician Ezzatollah Yousefian-Molla emphasized in an interview with Nameh News that “nuclear weapons are meant to boost a country’s deterrence power; they are not necessarily intended for use.”

However, he added, “If we find our weapons inadequate compared to those of our enemy, the fatwa [religious decree by Khamenei] prohibiting nuclear bomb development might be reconsidered.”

Discussing potential shifts in Iran’s nuclear doctrine, Yousefian-Molla explained that religious decrees are often adaptable. He cited the 19th-century fatwa banning tobacco, which was later revised by Muslim scholars when the political context changed. He reiterated that religious rulings can be modified to protect the regime, while noting, “We will never strike first; we respond only if attacked.”

Meanwhile, hardline lawmaker Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani remarked, “A shift in our nuclear doctrine will enhance our deterrence power,” clarifying that the goal is not to produce nuclear weapons but to strengthen Iran’s defense capabilities.

“We have already paid the price,” he stated referring to years of economic sanction, “and now we need to take the final step. The Supreme Leader has said our response to Israel will be proportionate to their attack. But what will we do if Israel uses nuclear weapons?”

"The outcome of the US presidential election will not bring about significant change and all necessary preparations and forecasts have been proactively planned. The livelihood of the people will remain unaffected," government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani told domestic media.

Iranian state media has remained largely silent on the election, while many Iranians turned to social media to share celebratory messages.

Some major American news outlets have yet to call the election definitively for Trump, although Fox News declared his victory after he secured Pennsylvania early Wednesday.

Several world leaders, including those from Israel, France, and Australia, have swiftly extended their congratulations to Donald Trump on his election victory.

“There isn’t much difference between Trump and Harris,” Mohajerani said, adding that Iranian government policy has been “pre-planned to account for the outcome, and there will be no change in the livelihood of the people.”

“We are not worried about Trump’s election victory,” she added.

The head of the country's Atomic Energy Organization, Mohammad Eslami, also commented on Trump’s victory, saying that the state pursues its own interests in strategic goals and the nuclear industry.

“Our program is not influenced by any changes in the US and will not change,” he said on Wednesday.

Trump told reporters on Tuesday that Tehran "can't have nuclear weapons."

"My terms are very easy," Trump said in Florida after casting his vote. "I'd like them to be a very successful country."

The latest comments by Iranian officials are in line with Iranian state-media narratives in recent days, with domestic experts that the election result will not have a significant impact on the country.

In contrast, Iranians on social media have been vocal, expressing jubilation and humor over Trump’s win, with some jokingly dubbing him the "Chef of the Cutlet."

The term refers to Qasem Soleimani, the former IRGC Quds Force commander killed by a US drone strike ordered by Trump in 2020. Iranians opposed to the Islamic Republic mockingly call the day of his death "Cutlet Day," likening Soleimani's fate to a popular ground meat dish in Iran.

Adding to the reactions, both prominent users and ordinary citizens shared images of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei appearing tearful, hinting at his potential dismay over the prospect of Trump’s return to office.

Others, including the user Parinaz Etesam, hypothesized about the impact of Trump’s re-election and the future of Iran.

"Is it possible that in a year when Ismail Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar, and Hassan Nasrallah are killed and Trump is re-elected, we could witness the downfall of the Islamic Republic?” Etesam wrote, reflecting some of the sentiments shared by other opponents of the state.

As global news coverage centered on Trump’s continued gains, the Iranian currency, the rial, sharply declined, with the dollar reaching a record high of 720,000 rials on Wednesday.

The spike in the dollar’s exchange rate has raised concerns among some Iranians that Trump’s victory could bring intensified economic hardship for the country.

On social media, some Iranian users commented that while a weakened rial could worsen poverty, that economic pressure could also be a catalyst to eventually see the end of the Islamic Republic.

Despite these reactions and market anxieties, Iranian officials had previously downplayed Trump’s projected win. Today, possibly in anticipation of further sanctions, government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani stated, "Previous sanctions significantly strengthened our domestic resilience, and today’s economy is sufficiently capable of handling this."

Iranian government critics were also quick to respond, pointing to leadership promises of reform. Some users referenced recent statements by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who had pledged to lift economic sanctions, questioning whether his assurances could withstand a Trump administration.

Another tweet said, “Trump’s presidency means the end of the Islamic Republic’s four-year reprieve with America.” It suggested that Trump’s return could bring “difficult days ahead” for Khamenei and the IRGC, whom he described as facing repercussions for efforts to eliminate Trump.

While Iranian media remains silent on Trump’s election, social media activity and market reactions reflect the unease and anticipation many Iranians feel as they brace for what a second Trump term could mean for the nation.