Ayatollah Khamenei clarifies that 'Death to America' chants are nothing personal

Brett T. | 4:03 PM on November 03, 2015

Hearing Iranians chant “Death to America” isn’t a new development, but many Americans had hoped the repeated death wish would have had some sort of influence on the negotiations behind the Iranian nuclear deal. Seeing as they were holding negotiations in a plush hotel in Vienna, though, Secretary of State John Kerry and company were well out of earshot of the protests and flag burnings.

Not to worry, though. According to the Associated Press, Iran’s supreme leader has explained that “Death to America” is the equivalent of Donald Trump asking if voters would elect a president with Carly Fiornia’s face — by face, he obviously meant persona. And when Iranians chant “Death to America,” it’s simply an expression of protest against America’s policies, not her people.

Iran's Ayatollah Khamenei says "Death to America" slogan refers to US policies, not the people: https://t.co/vpBL2Y0OpP

— The Associated Press (@AP) November 3, 2015

@AP Oooohhhh…. We've been misunderstanding this all this time.

— Scott Dabson (@Dabber65) November 3, 2015

@AP and I have a piece of oceanfront property in Kansas. #liesDamnLies

— Ryan Engle (@therlengle) November 3, 2015

@AP Anyone who believes that is an idiot

— Jason G Khalaf (@jasonkhalaf1) November 3, 2015

That certainly makes us feel better about Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and cache of U.S. hostages. Khamenei reportedly told students on the anniversary of the 1979 takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran that the “aim of the slogan is not death to American people. The slogan means death to U.S. policies and arrogance.” The slogan has “strong support” In Iran, he added.