The US State Department found itself in hot water on Monday after offering “official condolences” for the death of Iran’s Ebrahim Raisi, a controversial figure accused of ordering the murders of Iranian dissidents and cracking down on protesters. The statement, made by spokesman Matthew Miller, sparked intense questioning from reporters during a daily briefing.
Miller defended the statement by citing similar gestures made in the past for leaders with bloody records, such as Josef Stalin. He emphasized that the condolences did not undermine the US government’s criticism of Iran’s human rights violations and support for militant groups in the Middle East.
Reporters pressed Miller on whether the statement was an attempt to soften US-Iran relations or related to reported backchannel communications between the two countries. Miller denied any political motive and reiterated Raisi’s history of human rights abuses.
The exchange with reporters comes as the Biden administration faces scrutiny over its Middle East policy, particularly regarding Israel and Iran. While the administration supports a two-state solution for Israel-Palestine, it has struggled to make progress due to opposition from Israeli leaders.
The condolences for Raisi’s death were met with criticism from conservative lawmakers, with Senator Tom Cotton calling it a “disgrace.” The statement reignited debate over US-Iran relations, which soured under the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign.
Despite ongoing tensions, reports suggest that the US and Iran have engaged in backchannel talks to prevent conflict in the region. The Biden administration has made it clear that it will not re-enter the 2015 nuclear agreement, signaling a challenging road ahead for US-Iran relations.