Exiting the Deal Part 9: Iranian Media Coverage

The U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear deal was the top story in Iranian newspapers on May 9, the day after President Donald Trump’s announcement. His decision produced common cause among Iran’s diverse political cartoonists through the end of the month. The Islamic Republic has a broad political spectrum—ranging from reformists to hardline principlists—that is reflected in an equally broad range of media outlets. But they uniformly depicted the U.S. decision as self-destructive and Iran as resilient. 

The following is a collection of front pages and political cartoons reacting to the U.S. decision to reverse policy, exit the deal, and reimpose economic sanctions. Translations of the headlines are adapted from those published by Iran Front Page. Translations of the cartoon titles are by Eli Pollock. 

 

                                Centrist Newspapers

 

Ebtekar

“Trump, killer of international treaties”

Ebtekar

May 30, 2018

 

"Iran Sets Conditions for Remaining in JCPOA after U.S. Withdrawal"

Ebtekar

May 9, 2018

 

“Politics of Threat”

Ebetkar May 10

May 10, 2018

 

Hamshahri

The paper used a headline similar to the one that described the Shah’s departure in 1979.

"JCPOA Remained, U.S. Left It"

"Europe did not support Trump's decision to exit from JCPOA and impose nuclear sanctions"
"Rouhani: From Now on, JCPOA Is a Deal between Iran and 5 Countries"
(Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali) "Shamkhani: World Not to Go Back to Pre-JCPOA Era"

Hamshahri

May 9, 2018

 

                                Reformist Newspapers

Arman-e Emrooz

“Bye bye annoying creature!”

Arman Emrooz

May 10, 2018

 

"Mogherini: We’ll Remain in Iran Nuclear Deal"

"Europe to Support Positive Results of JCPOA"

Arman-e Emrooz

May 9, 2018

 

Shargh

"Rouhani: Our nation is more united than in the past"

"Mogherini: We remain beside Iran"

Shargh front page

May 9, 2018

 

("JCPOA" is written on the grass.)

Shargh May 10

May 10, 2018

 

Etemaad

"Intruder Now Out of JCPOA"

"Iran President Calls JCPOA ‘International Deal’"

Etemad

May 9, 2018

 

Ghanoon 

"JCPOA Without the Intruder"

"Heavy Costs of Withdrawal for U.S."
"Europeans Stand by Iran"

Ghanoon

May 9, 2018

 

Bahar 

"Rouhani: We Must Stand on Our Own Feet"

Bahar

May 9, 2018

 

Aftab-e Yazd

"Tehran’s Logical Decision"

"Iran to Remain in JCPOA If Its Conditions Are Met: Rouhani"
"Head of Government: The People Have no Anxieties for Future of Country"

Aftab

May 9, 2018

                                Principlist Newspapers

Javan

("Iran" is written on the tree. "Sanctions" is written on the axes.)

Javan May 18

May 18, 2018

 

("JCPOA" is written on the first domino.)

Javan May 10

May 10, 2018

 

Kayhan

"Trump Tears Apart JCPOA"

"It’s Now Our Turn to Burn It"

Kayhan

May 9, 2018

 

Vatan-e Emrooz

"No Sequel"

"Rouhani after U.S. Withdrawal from JCPOA: We Gained Important, Historic Experience"
"Trump Officially Declares U.S. Withdrawal from JCPOA, Signs Executive Order for Return of Nuclear Sanctions Against Iran"

Vatan-e Emrooz

May 9, 2018

 

Afkar

"Shamkhani: JCPOA Collapse Will Not Benefit the U.S."

Afkar

May 9, 2018

 

Eli Pollock, a research assistant at the Woodrow Wilson Center International Center for Scholars, contributed to this collection. 

 

Click here for President Trump's remarks. 

Click here for the U.S. Treasury's statements on sanctions. 

Click here for Iran's response. 

Click here for world reactions. 

Click here for congressional remarks. 

Click here for Obama-era officials' reactions. 

Click here for analysis by foreign policy and non-proliferation experts. 

Click here for reactions from the Middle East. 

 

Some of the information in this article was originally published on May 10, 2018.