Democratic Senate candidate Dr. Abdul El-Sayed faced pointed questions Wednesday at a town hall in Ann Arbor, Michigan, regarding his stance on the Iranian government and ongoing protests against the regime. The event, dubbed “Students vs. Billionaires,” saw an emotional appeal from a student challenging El-Sayed to denounce Iran’s Islamic Republic and express solidarity with anti-regime demonstrators.

Iman Dashti, a student with personal ties to Iran, recounted the suffering of his family under the theocratic government. He cited the case of his uncle, reportedly punished with 50 lashes before being executed, and a cousin detained for allegedly improperly wearing a hijab. Dashti referenced leaked audio in which El-Sayed, a Sunni Muslim, hesitated to comment on the death of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei early in the U.S. war on February 28, indicating concerns about alienating Shiite Muslim voters in Michigan.

Dashti challenged El-Sayed directly, asking whether he regretted remaining silent and if he would renounce support for Khamenei and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which have been accused of violence against protesters. He urged El-Sayed to unequivocally back opposition groups, highlighting reports of at least 50,000 protesters killed by Iranian security forces.

In response, El-Sayed expressed general support for freedom and democratic movements but emphasized caution about U.S. involvement aimed at regime change. He argued that such interventions often align with corporate and resource-driven interests rather than the promotion of democracy. El-Sayed cautioned against repeating the mistakes of past conflicts, citing trillions of dollars lost and sanctions that have disproportionately affected civilians rather than regime leadership.

Dashti pressed El-Sayed further, accusing him of evading the question about standing with Iranian dissidents. El-Sayed reiterated his commitment to democratic movements globally but maintained his reluctance to endorse direct U.S. intervention or resource allocation toward overthrowing foreign governments.

The exchange highlights the tensions Democratic candidates face in balancing support for international human rights causes with wariness of entanglements in foreign conflicts, especially in communities with diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds. El-Sayed’s nuanced response reflects broader debates within U.S. politics about the most effective and ethical means of supporting pro-democracy movements abroad.