Iran Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivered a defiant speech to the people in his country, as well as those watching around the world, when he defended his military’s catastrophic downing of a passenger plane last week. Mistaking the Ukranian passenger plane for a cruise missile, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard shot down the plane killing all 176 people on board.
After the country’s forces had admitted to making a “disastrous mistake”, Khamenei defended the military’s actions, saying that the Revolutionary Guard “maintained the security” of the Islamic Republic.
The tragic error had sparked fury from many in Iran, with the country’s citizens protesting in opposition to the regime.
However, with Khamenei calling for “national unity” while also arguing that Tehran’s “enemies were as happy about the plane crash as we were sad”, pre-existing hatred of the West in the country could once again aid the its leaders.
Mr Trump’s pressure on Iran has already sparked one moment of apparent national unity in the country.
The US’ killing of influential general Qassem Soleimani led to thousands of Iranians taking to the streets to mourn his death.
The direct military intervention turned the tide in Iran, as people across the country had been demonstrating against the regime amid economic crisis and corruption furore.
The anti-government feeling in Iran was partly down to Mr Trump’s crippling sanctions, which were issued after the breakdown of the nuclear deal, which Washington claims had been violated by Tehran.
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Past votes have been marred by corruption, but as expert Saied Golkar highlights for Al Jazeera, they still hold great significance as the regime looks to sell itself as the powerful force in Tehran.
He highlights that the regime’s “popularity is fading and it is facing unprecedented pressure from the international community.”
But with the Revolutionary Guard warning its citizens that a high turnout in the vote could help the Iranian leaders defy Mr Trump, the US’ hostility has become a selling point for the embattled regime in Iran at a time when pressure had been building on them.