Rouhani: The 'Death to America' Slogan Does Not Target the American People

Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, in an interview with CBS News, attempted to assure the American people that when the slogan 'Death to America' is chanted in Iran, it does not refer to the people of this country. According to Agence France-Presse, Mr. Rouhani emphasized in this interview, which will air on Sunday, September 20, during the '60 Minutes' program, that the slogans, especially those chanted during Friday prayers in Iran, are a reaction to 'previous political decisions made by Washington' that have harmed Iran. On July 14 of this year, Iran finally reached a comprehensive nuclear agreement with the United States and five other world powers—Britain, Russia, France, China, and Germany—after years of negotiations at various political levels, which meant the end of sanctions imposed against Tehran's nuclear program. However, this agreement faced negative reactions from American Republicans who believe that it does not prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Critics of the nuclear agreement in the U.S. have also pointed to the 'Death to America' slogan, which is chanted on various occasions in Iran, claiming it as evidence of Iran's intentions. However, Hassan Rouhani has a different explanation regarding this slogan. He tells the CBS '60 Minutes' hosts: 'This slogan is not against the American people. Our people respect the American people. The people of Iran do not seek war with any country.' He further states that 'the policies of the United States have been against the national interests of Iranians, and it is understandable that they show sensitivity to this issue.' According to this Iranian official, 'When the people of Iran rose against the Shah, America supported the Shah until the last moments in a domineering manner. In the eight-year war with Iraq, it was again the Americans who supported Saddam.' Mr. Rouhani ultimately said: 'The people do not forget these things. We cannot forget the past, but at the same time, our gaze must also be directed towards the future.' Hassan Rouhani is considered the first Iranian president to have a conversation with his American counterpart, although this conversation was brief and over the phone, it paved the way for Iran's nuclear negotiations with world powers at the foreign ministers' level, and for the first time in the history of the Islamic Republic, the foreign ministers of Iran and the U.S. directly negotiated with each other, discussions that lasted for hours, days, and months.