Unease in Iran as 'Trump's duplicate' becomes British PM

While politicians in Tehran were seeking a new opening with the UK after Boris Johnson found his way to 10 Downing Street, Iran's media received the news with little enthusiasm.
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson enters 10 Downing Street after meeting Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and accepting her invitation to become Prime Minister and form a new government, in London, Britain July 24, 2019. Stefan Rousseau/Pool via REUTERS - RC1D5AEAAC20
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson enters 10 Downing Street after meeting Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and accepting her invitation to become prime minister and form a new government, in London, Britain, July 24, 2019. - Stefan Rousseau/Pool via REUTERS
Al Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East
Al-Monitor Staff

Iranian media outlets were inundated by editorials July 24 on how a Boris Johnson premiership would impact the already turbulent Tehran-London ties. Personal traits and foreign policy approaches that the incoming British prime minister shares with US President Donald Trump shaped the picture Iranian outlets painted of the new Tory leader.

"A new Trump in Europe," "The British Trump," "Trump's duplicate," "Trump reproduced in London" and "Trump's body double" were among a multitude of pejorative descriptions Iranian papers used to underline what they view as the threat of the new UK prime minister to international relations in general and the Islamic Republic in particular.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.

Videos

See more