In an article reported by Hawzah News Agency, Hojatoleslam Seyyed Najib-ul-Hassan Zaidi wrote that recent US election developments — particularly Democratic successes in several key races — have once again raised the question of whether a change in the political balance of power can reduce the influence of evangelical and Christian Zionist currents within the US government structure.
While election results may reflect shifts in American society's political and social leanings, Zaidi argued that analyzing their consequences requires attention to deeper realities. The core issue, he said, is not simply one party's victory and another's defeat, but the extent to which these developments can affect fundamental US policies — particularly regarding war, Israel, and the rights of oppressed nations.
Election results: a sign of shifting US political leanings
Zaidi said Democratic gains in several races can be seen as a sign of dissatisfaction among segments of American society with Republican performance and the policies of the Trump administration. Economic discontent, rising living costs, deepening domestic divisions, and a warmongering foreign policy are among the factors that can influence voters' preferences.
However, he cautioned that these developments should not be interpreted as the end of evangelical and Christian Zionist influence. The evangelical movement in the US is a deeply rooted current whose influence is not limited to a single president or political party.
This movement is present in American politics through religious institutions, financial networks, media, think tanks, and pressure groups, he noted. Therefore, the Republicans' electoral defeat will not necessarily lead to the structural weakening of this movement.
Structural roots of evangelical and Christian Zionist influence
Zaidi argued that the political influence of the evangelical movement must be examined through the link between religious beliefs, social organizations, and power mechanisms in the US. Parts of the Christian Zionist current view support for Israel not merely as a political choice but as a religious and doctrinal necessity, and on this basis play a role in shaping US domestic and foreign policy.
Christian Zionism, he added, uses its religious and political capacities to try to turn support for Israel into a fixed principle of US foreign policy.
He noted, however, that not all evangelical Christians support Zionist policies, and that views vary among them. Still, influential segments of this current retain considerable capacity to influence elections, government decisions, and public opinion.
On the other hand, Zaidi said, support for Israel is not limited to evangelical currents or the Republican Party and has strong backers among politicians and institutions affiliated with the Democratic Party as well.
Democratic victory: a potential opportunity to limit extremist influence
Accordingly, Zaidi said the Democratic victory should be seen as a potential opportunity to reconsider some US policies and limit the influence of extremist currents — not as a definitive sign of the end of their activities.
A change in the political balance of power may pave the way for reduced government support for warmongering policies, stronger oversight of government performance, and a greater role for currents opposed to religious extremism.
However, he stressed, such developments depend on politicians' practical positions and their commitment to the principles of justice, peace, and human rights. The mere victory of a party is no guarantee of improvement for Palestine, Iran, or other nations under pressure.
The true criterion for evaluating political parties, Zaidi argued, is not election slogans but their performance regarding war, occupation, and violations of nations' rights.
The real criterion: justice and opposition to war and occupation
The fundamental issue, he wrote, is not the confrontation between Republicans and Democrats but the boundary between justice and injustice, peace and war, and the defense of human dignity versus domination.
If a politician from any party takes a stand against Israeli aggression, defends the Palestinian people's right to self-determination, and calls for an end to war and support for the rights of oppressed nations, such positions should be supported, he said.
Likewise, if a politician opposes religious extremism and the instrumental use of religion to justify war and occupation, his position deserves support.
In this framework, strengthening anti-war movements, human rights activists, independent media, and moderate religious currents can pave the way for the formation of a justice-seeking current in American society — one that pursues support for the oppressed beyond partisan and political affiliations.
The real defeat of the evangelical movement requires intellectual and moral transformation
Zaidi argued that the real defeat of extremist evangelical currents will be realized when the political and warmongering nature hidden behind their religious slogans is exposed.
When the American people realize that justifying war, destruction, and killing in the name of Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) contradicts the spirit of Christian teachings — and that support for Israel can no longer be presented as a national and unchallengeable duty — the ground will be prepared to limit the influence of these currents.
Such a transformation, more than any election victory, can affect America's political future, he said, because confronting Christian Zionism is not achieved merely by defeating a party but requires a critique of the ideology that grants legitimacy to power and justifies occupation in the name of security.
The need for a political conscience rooted in justice
Zaidi concluded that US election developments have provided an opportunity to rethink the country's policies and assess existing capacities to limit the influence of extremist currents. However, a change in the political balance of power alone cannot guarantee a transformation in fundamental US policies.
What is fundamentally important, he said, is strengthening public conscience and shaping a political outlook in which justice, peace, and human dignity are the main criteria for evaluating those in power.
History, he added, will ultimately judge not by the name of the ruling party but by how those in power treat oppressed nations.
Therefore, the main issue in US political developments is not whether one is a Republican or a Democrat, but the degree of commitment to justice, opposition to war, and defense of the rights of nations victimized by power-seeking and occupation. This is the transformation that can transcend the rotation of power between parties and pave the way for a more just future for American society and the world.
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