In an interview with ABC News published on Monday, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul-Saeed of Michigan said in response to a question about whether he would condemn the current regime in Iran that “this idea of liking, condemning or not condemning” is “a strange approach. I condemn the genocide that Israel has done. I also condemn apartheid. I condemn Iran’s attacks on democracy. But how do we deal with the actors in the world and the people in this world? “I hope we can make peace with Iran like President Obama did. I hope we figure out how to stop funding genocide and apartheid elsewhere. “
Host Lindsay Davis asked: “[F]Or for those who want to hear, do you condemn the current regime in Iran? how do you say? “
El-Sayed responded: “They committed horrific acts. There’s no question about it. I support democracy. I support human rights. That’s what I want for our people. That’s what I want for everybody, right? There’s no question that that regime committed horrific acts. That’s not an open question, right? But the big picture question is not — for us, what is our best interest? created a space within which we had contained the nuclear threat and we are on a pathway to more peace. That is a good thing. We want that, right? And now, we find ourselves in a situation where, after twoweer after a war. So, yes, are we in active war against Iran? Yes. Are they an enemy combatant in this war?
Davis continued: “But, to be fair to that question, if yes or no, do you actually condemn the current regime in Iran?”
El-Sayed responded: “I condemn many of their actions. But if you want peace with the people, you have to figure out how to get to a peaceful place. I also condemn the Saudi human rights violations. But that’s not the question you asked me. So, I’m just saying, a lot of foreign governments have done a lot of reprehensible things. I’ve condemned Iran’s attacks on democracy, too, but we have to figure out how to get to peace with people you disagree with. Genocide and apartheid, right?” Or the UAE, I hope we can really promote our values beyond conversations like, do you condemn?
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