Iranian state-controlled newspaper Kayhan has praised a gunman who murdered an American and an Israeli in Washington D.C., calling the victims “Zionist wild animals” and the shooter a “dear brother.”
At a Glance
- Kayhan newspaper, controlled by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, celebrated the murder of two people outside Washington’s Jewish Museum
- The newspaper called shooter Elias Rodriguez “our dear brother” and linked him to Iran’s paramilitary Basij
- Rodriguez reportedly claimed he committed the murders “for Palestine… for Gaza”
- This rhetoric comes as reports suggest the Trump administration may be considering an interim nuclear agreement with Iran
- Iran has been designated a state-sponsor of terrorism by the U.S. since the mid-1980s
Iranian State Media Glorifies Washington Murders
In a disturbing development that highlights the Iranian regime’s continued promotion of violence, Kayhan newspaper has publicly praised Elias Rodriguez for allegedly murdering an American citizen and an Israeli embassy staff member in Washington, D.C. The newspaper, which serves as the mouthpiece for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, referred to Rodriguez as “our dear brother” and even suggested he was establishing a “Washington Basij” – referring to Iran’s notorious paramilitary organization known for brutal domestic suppression.
Hossein Shariatmadari, Kayhan’s editor, wrote in the paper: “Any news of our dear brother Elias Rodriguez, who sent two Zionist wild animals in Washington to hell with a bullet?” The editorial characterized the murders as a “revolutionary action” and continued to use dehumanizing language against the victims. This rhetoric has shocked observers of the regime and drawn international condemnation, particularly from Israel’s Foreign Ministry.
Pattern of Promoting Violence
This is not the first time Kayhan has endorsed violence against those deemed enemies of the regime. The newspaper has a documented history of celebrating attacks, including the 2022 stabbing of author Salman Rushdie, which it described as “divine revenge.” The newspaper’s stance aligns with the Iranian leadership’s long-standing use of violence and terrorism as tools to maintain power, intimidate opponents, and project strength internationally.
“Iran openly calls for terror attacks against Israel on U.S. soil. Kayhan, the mouthpiece of Supreme Leader Khamenei, praises the attack on Israeli embassy staff in Washington DC — one of whom was an American citizen — calling the killer the founder of the ‘Washington Basij,’ Iran’s brutal militia.”, Israel’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Oren Marmorstein, wrote on X.
The endorsement of violence by Iranian state media dates back decades, including support for Ayatollah Khomeini’s 1989 fatwa against Salman Rushdie. This latest incident follows a consistent pattern where the regime views acts of terrorism as demonstrations of strength and control, even when such actions damage Iran’s international standing. Vatan-e-Emrooz, another publication linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, also praised the Washington assassinations.
Diplomatic Implications
The timing of Kayhan’s inflammatory editorial is particularly significant as it coincides with reports that the Trump administration may be considering an interim nuclear agreement with Iran. According to Israel Hayom, such a deal might involve Iran halting nuclear weapons development in exchange for easing economic sanctions. This juxtaposition of promoting terrorism while potentially engaging in nuclear negotiations raises serious concerns about the Iranian regime’s trustworthiness.
“These repulsive newspaper articles are a reminder that the Iranian regime is the leading state-sponsor of antisemitism.”, said Jason Brodsky, policy director of United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI).
Jason Brodsky of United Against Nuclear Iran has warned against trusting the regime in any nuclear negotiations, highlighting Iran’s consistent pattern of antisemitism and support for terrorism. Beni Sabti, an expert on Iran, emphasized that the murders could be interpreted as a form of revenge with religious symbolism, consistent with Iran’s history of directing terror against the United States. As a designated state-sponsor of terrorism since the mid-1980s, Iran’s open celebration of violence on American soil presents a complex challenge for U.S. policymakers weighing diplomatic options.
