The U.S. State Department's Account of '40 Years of Failure' of the Islamic Republic

On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the February 1979 Revolution, the U.S. State Department tweeted a series titled '40 Years of Failure,' recalling some actions of the Islamic Republic in suppressing media, detaining journalists, limiting the internet, and government corruption. The department stated that in 1979, Ayatollah Khomeini promised the Iranian people 'material and spiritual prosperity,' but over these 40 years, the 'corrupt' Islamic Republic has 'destroyed the country's economy, disrespected Iran's authentic heritage, and only brought about 40 years of failure.' The department also referenced Khomeini's promises to end 'oppression' and establish justice and freedom, stating that 'the ruling regime in Iran has trampled all those promises and has only brought about 40 years of failure.' The tweets also recalled the former leader's promises for freedom of expression and press, highlighting the Islamic Republic's actions in detaining journalists and filtering social media and the internet. According to the department, 'today Iran has one of the most repressed media environments.' Mike Pompeo, the U.S. Secretary of State, also described the record of the Islamic Republic as '40 years of failure and disappointment' in a tweet. He wrote, 'Even Hassan Rouhani, your president, acknowledges the 40 years of failure and disappointment of the regime. It didn't have to be this way, but your ruling regime has always prioritized ideology over the interests and welfare of the Iranian people.' Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, stated on Wednesday, February 10, that 'we are facing the greatest economic pressure since the revolution.' U.S. sanctions have led to the devaluation of Iran's national currency and the bankruptcy of many Iranian industries in recent months, with people even facing shortages of baby diapers for a time. Some protesters in the December protests last year cited the current economic situation and the problems they faced as a result of the government's inefficiency and the corruption of officials. Donald Trump has stated that he is willing to negotiate with senior officials of the Islamic Republic without preconditions, but Ayatollah Khamenei has said he will not allow negotiations with the U.S. Mr. Trump predicted, 'There will come a time when the officials of the Islamic Republic will become very smart and return to negotiate.' The U.S. government seeks a more comprehensive agreement than the 'JCPOA' with Iran, covering various issues from the nuclear program to missile programs and Tehran's activities in the region, and has outlined 12 conditions for reaching a new agreement with Iran.