Michigan Senate Candidate Defends Iran War Critique After Khamenei Leak
Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El‑Sayed used a Wednesday Fox News interview to answer backlash over leaked campaign audio in which he told staff he would not publicly comment on the U.S.-Israeli killing of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei because ‘a lot of people in Dearborn… are sad today.’ In the new appearance, El‑Sayed called Khamenei a ‘bad man’ but labeled the operation ‘illegal’ and ‘immoral,’ questioning whether the U.S. had the legal authority to pursue regime change and whether the conflict is worth what he claimed is $31 billion in U.S. costs and about $1 billion a day, along with higher gasoline prices. He framed the Iran conflict as a ‘war we don’t need to be fighting’ and said many Dearborn and Dearborn Heights residents—most of whom he noted are White—are upset about both war spending and prices at the pump. The Washington Free Beacon‑reported audio and El‑Sayed’s remarks have drawn sharp criticism from figures such as former Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren, who on Fox called it a ‘moral meltdown’ to worry about people saddened by the death of a leader he accused of killing and brutalizing thousands, including Americans. The episode highlights how the Iran war, its economic fallout and questions over targeted killings abroad are becoming flashpoints in key 2026 Senate races, particularly in swing states with large Arab‑American and Muslim communities.
📌 Key Facts
- Abdul El‑Sayed is one of three Democrats running to replace retiring Sen. Gary Peters in Michigan.
- Leaked staff audio captured El‑Sayed saying he did not want to comment on Khamenei’s death because ‘a lot of people in Dearborn… are sad today,’ while also calling Khamenei a ‘bad man’ and labeling the operation illegal.
- In a Fox News ‘America’s Newsroom’ interview, El‑Sayed called the U.S.-Israeli action ‘illegal’ and ‘immoral’ and described the Iran war as a ‘war we don’t need to be fighting,’ citing an estimated $31 billion in costs and about $1 billion a day plus higher gas prices.
- Former Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren condemned El‑Sayed’s stance on Fox’s ‘America Reports,’ calling the reaction to Khamenei’s death a ‘moral meltdown’ and emphasizing Khamenei’s record of killing and repressing thousands, including Americans.
📊 Relevant Data
Dearborn, Michigan, has a population where approximately 54% of residents are of Arab ancestry, making it the city with the highest concentration of Arab Americans in the United States; the Muslim population in Dearborn is estimated at around 40-50% of the total population, with a significant Shia Muslim community that may have cultural or religious ties to Iran.
Dearborn, Michigan: A Demographic Overview — U.S. Census Bureau and Arab American Institute
The population of Dearborn has seen significant demographic change, with the Arab American population growing from about 30% in 2000 to over 50% by 2020, largely due to immigration and higher birth rates among Arab American families; this shift has altered the city's racial composition, where White non-Hispanic residents decreased from 89% in 1990 to about 45% in 2020.
Demographic Shifts in Dearborn, Michigan — U.S. Census Bureau
Projections for the cost of a potential U.S. military conflict with Iran estimate initial costs at $1.5 trillion over 10 years, including daily operational costs that could exceed $1 billion during intense phases, based on models from past Middle East wars; actual costs in similar conflicts like Iraq have reached $2.4 trillion including long-term veteran care.
The Costs of War with Iran: An Economic Assessment — RAND Corporation
The Iran war has contributed to U.S. gas prices rising by about 20-30% due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, where 21% of global oil transits; as of early 2026 projections, average U.S. gas prices have increased to over $4 per gallon, disproportionately affecting lower-income households who spend 8-10% of income on fuel compared to 2-3% for higher-income groups.
Impact of Geopolitical Tensions on U.S. Energy Prices — U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
Public opinion on U.S. involvement in the Iran war shows partisan divides, with 65% of Democrats opposing escalation compared to 40% of Republicans; in Michigan, opposition is higher among Muslim Americans at 75%, reflecting community ties, while overall state support for the war is around 45%.
Polling on U.S. Foreign Policy and the Iran Conflict — Pew Research Center
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's regime is attributed with overseeing the deaths of at least 1,500 protesters in 2019 crackdowns, thousands of executions including for LGBTQ+ individuals, and support for militias responsible for over 600 U.S. troop deaths in Iraq between 2003-2011.
Human Rights Violations Under Khamenei's Leadership — Human Rights Watch
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