Tehran, Iran - The Iranians faced another U.S. travel ban imposed by President Donald Trump, and in light of decades of tensions between the two countries, the decision was anger, frustration and some shrugs.
Trump imposed a similar ban during his first term and then unilaterally withdrew the U.S. from Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers, a deadline in which Iran drastically restricted its plans in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.
But when he returned to the White House and began pursuing a new deal with Iran, the country's Rial currency improved and stocks rose, but feared the rise as the government seemed ready to reject the initial U.S. proposal. The travel ban further darkens that sentiment and leads Iranians to fear that Trump will repeatedly praise them even while seeking a deal, even if he repeatedly praises them, would tie 80 million people to his theocratic government.
“Now, I know that Trump is against all Iranians and his attitude is not limited to the government,” said Asghar Nejati, a 31-year-old man working in a pharmacy in Tehran.
Even in the years following the Islamic Revolution of 1979 and the subsequent hostage crisis at the U.S. Embassy, Iranian students traveled to the United States to attend college. From 2018 to 2024, an average of 10,000 Iranian students travel to the United States each year.
Estimates show that about 1 million Iranians today - the original people live in the United States.
37-year-old graphic designer Mehrnoush Alipour said countries might have better relationships if they could talk to each other in softer tones.
"This is another stupid decision. Trump cannot achieve his goal by putting pressure on ordinary Iranians," she said. "The two countries can build better relationships through vacancies rather than restrictions."
Bank teller Mahdieh Naderi said Trump's efforts to slam the frustrated efforts to encounter a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war and the Russian-Ukrainian war.
"Trump is just angry at the failure of his plan," Nadri said. "He also complains about Chinese and others who live in the United States
Some say interest in the U.S. has waned before the latest ban.
"In the past few years, my two grandsons have gone to Canada to continue their education," said Mohammad Ali Niaraki, 75. "Iranians are not limited to immigration, and they are not as interested in going to the United States decades ago as they were decades ago.
But others point out that despite tensions, senior government officials live or work in the United States despite having children.
"It's great, but it would be very good if he kicked out the kids of the officials who lived there," said a freshly named man. "We can't afford to travel to the United States, almost 80% of us can't. But it would be much better if he kicked out those who were already there."
Tehran resident Mehri Soltani has provided rare support for Trump's decision.
"Those who have families in the United States, that's their right, but a bunch of bad guys, terrorists and murderers want to go there, too," he said. "So his policy is right. He's doing the right thing."
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Gambrell reported on Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.