JERUSALEM — A newspaper linked to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has openly praised the man accused of killing two Israeli embassy staff members in Washington, D.C. The editorial described Elias Rodriguez, a 31-year-old from Chicago, as “our dear brother” for allegedly committing the murders in what he claimed was an act motivated by solidarity with Palestine and Gaza.
Rodriguez is alleged to have fatally shot Sarah Milgrim, 26, an American from Kansas, and her boyfriend Yaron Lischinsky, 30, an Israeli, on the evening of May 21 as they left a special event at the Capital Jewish Museum. Witnesses reported that Rodriguez expressed his intent behind the act in chilling remarks to law enforcement.
In a strikingly provocative editorial, the newspaper Kayhan lauded Rodriguez, suggesting that he is the founder of a group nicknamed the “Washington Basij,” referencing an Iranian paramilitary force known for suppressing dissent against Khamenei’s regime. The piece was penned by Hossein Shariatmadari, the publication’s notoriously anti-American editor, who further amplified the rhetoric by questioning, “Any news of our dear brother Elias Rodriguez, who sent two Zionist wild animals in Washington to hell with a bullet?”
This praise for violent acts against U.S. citizens has shocked observers, including foreign ministry officials in Israel who view it as a blatant call for terrorism on American soil. An Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman condemned the editorial, emphasizing that the Iranian regime’s media is advocating violence while undermining diplomatic engagements.
The timing of the editorial is particularly concerning, coinciding with reports suggesting that the U.S. government may consider easing some sanctions on Iran as part of negotiations surrounding a potential nuclear deal. Iranian officials have continuously asserted their right to enrich uranium, intensifying anxieties among U.S. officials and experts regarding Tehran’s intentions.
Vatan-e-Emrooz, another publication aligned with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, echoed similar sentiments, celebrating the assassination and reinforcing the regime’s longstanding pattern of antisemitism. Jason Brodsky, a policy director at United Against Nuclear Iran, criticized the Iranian media’s glorification of violence, recalling past instances in which Kayhan has expressed admiration for historical figures associated with hatred.
Iranian experts have underscored the seriousness of this situation, asserting that the regime’s glorification of violence is a direct threat, not just to Israel but to American security as well. Beni Sabti, a researcher on Iranian affairs, warned that Americans must recognize the potential for terror originating from the Iranian regime to spill over into their homeland.
In the wake of the shooting, calls for justice have echoed from various quarters, including strong statements condemning antisemitism. Observers see the press rhetoric as indicative of deeper issues within the Iranian regime’s approach to diplomacy and terrorism, complicating any future negotiations aimed at curbing its nuclear ambitions.
As Rodriguez awaits trial, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the geopolitical tensions surrounding Iran’s actions, leaving a troubling mark on U.S.-Iran relations as discussions about nuclear agreements continue. The international community watches closely as the implications of this violence unfold, spotlighting the increasingly polarized landscape of Middle Eastern politics.