In the wake of Donald Trump's historic November 6 performance, Iranians have mixed reactions, with concerns focusing primarily on regional stability and potential shifts in US foreign policy.

While the Iranian government has been relatively muted so far, with only a response to a reporter's comments, many on the streets of the capital city are discussing the shock win and the potential for the Iranian economy to hit new lows.  

"Trump and Netanyahu would form a dangerous combination for the Middle East," says Mohammad, a Tehran resident. He points to Trump's previous term, noting significant policy shifts, including "the relocation of the Israeli capital from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and the facilitation of diplomatic relations between Israel and both the UAE and Bahrain."

Fatemeh Mohajerani, spokesperson for the administration of President Masoud Pezeshkian, struck a defiant tone: "The sanctions have made us more resilient. We're not worried about Trump's victory."

She said it does not matter who becomes president in the US, because Iran has already made its plans, she also noted that US election will not impact people's livelihoods.

The comments came while the Iranian rial (IRR) held around IRR700,000 against the US dollar on November 6, as the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) attempts to keep calm in the informal exchange market.

"Trump wins, dollar will now soar!" Shabnam said with concern after Trump declared victory.

Several commentators focused on the domestic US factors behind the Democratic defeat. "The Democrats lost because they spent billions of dollars in Ukraine and supporting Israel while the American people's economic situation worsened," observes Ali, a political analyst from Tehran.

"Biden's age and frailty became a subject of mockery, and his domestic policies weren't helping either," notes another respondent, highlighting the role of internal US politics in the election outcome.

The issue of potential future negotiations between Iran and the US emerged as a significant point of discussion. "We will never negotiate with the man who ordered General Soleimani's assassination," declares one passionate respondent, referring to the 2020 killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani.

However, others advocate for pragmatism. "Now is the time to establish relations with America - that would be the biggest blow to Israel," suggests one commentator, representing a growing view among the respondents in the Iranian capital.

The potential return of the so-called “maximum pressure” sanctions under a second Trump administration weighs heavily on many minds. "Trump will reimpose maximum sanctions on Iran," predicts one observer, though others argue that such measures proved ineffective during his previous term.

Several respondents highlighted the contrast between Trump's and Biden's approaches to regional issues. "Biden handed Afghanistan to the Taliban, resulting in millions of Afghan refugees becoming a burden on our country," notes one critic of the outgoing US administration.

Others express scepticism about Netanyahu's anticipated relationship with Trump. "I doubt Trump has forgotten the grudge he holds against Netanyahu for quickly congratulating Biden after the last election, despite Trump's protests about election fraud," observes one particularly astute commentator on the Tehran street.

The impact on American domestic politics also drew attention. "The American people don't want their tax money spent on Israeli warfare," suggests Omid, reflecting a perspective on US public opinion. Others note that domestic concerns, rather than Middle Eastern conflicts, dominated American voters' priorities.

Many critics of the Islamic Republic condemned the Biden administration for making excessive concessions to the Ayatollahs, particularly pointing to the release of Iran's frozen assets.

The US unfroze $6bn in Iranian assets frozen in South Korea as part of a prisoner swap deal. This agreement, finalised in September 2023, allowed the transfer of these funds from South Korea to Qatar, where they are reportedly restricted for humanitarian use.

Shahram, while waiting in an ATM queue, confided to a friend that Biden had permitted the Islamic Republic to access these funds, only to use them in Gaza, Lebanon, and Yemen, despite the dire state of the domestic economy.

Iran's military has vowed a crushing response to Israel's October 26 attack but has maintained that it would not act hastily. Many analysts believe Iran was delaying its operation until after the US election.

"They'll probably hit back this week, before Trump is inaugurated. God protect us," said Nasim from Tehran.