Hemmati: If American products are better there’s no issue with buying them

After more than three years of boycott campaigns, and lists of what is “permitted” and “forbidden” that targeted dozens of global brands, people were told that buying a drink or a fast-food meal meant killing children and destroying homes.

Now, the Islamic Republic of Iran itself is welcoming the import of American products.

Suddenly, American goods are no longer “impure,” Western companies are no longer part of the conspiracy, and the boycott is no longer an existential battle. Economic interests have become the standard.

The irony is that thousands of people fought daily battles in the name of the boycott, attacking anyone who disagreed with them, with little regard for the damage done to employees, workers, and company agents in their own countries.

Today, as Tehran puts its own interests first, those who believed the slogans are left facing one simple question: If Iran itself sees no problem in buying American products when its interests require it, why were others asked to fight economic battles on its behalf?