A Michigan Democratic Senate candidate, Abdul El-Sayed, addressed criticism on Wednesday regarding his previous comments about Iran’s Supreme Leader, asserting that the focus should be on the financial implications of a potential conflict. He characterized the situation as “a war we don’t need to be fighting.”

El-Sayed Addresses Controversial Remarks

“There are many people who see the downfall of the regime as a good thing, but the question of whether or not it was pursued legally, that’s a different question,” El-Sayed stated on ‘America’s Newsroom.’ “Whether or not it’s worth $31 billion of our taxes and counting – a billion dollars a day – that’s another thing.”

He further questioned the rising cost of fuel, adding, “Whether or not we should be paying higher rates at the pump every single time we try to just get where we’re going and pump gas… that’s a big question.” El-Sayed noted many Americans are concerned about a return to “never-ending regime change wars.”

Leaked Audio Fuels Debate

The controversy stems from leaked audio where El-Sayed explained his reluctance to publicly comment on the death of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, citing the sentiments of residents in Dearborn, Michigan. According to the Washington Free Beacon, El-Sayed discussed strategizing a response to the leader’s death following U.S. and Israeli military action.

“I also want to remind you guys that there are a lot of people in Dearborn who are sad today,” he reportedly told his team, referencing the city’s large Muslim population. “So, like, I just don’t want to comment on Khamenei at all.”

Acknowledging Khamenei’s Actions

While acknowledging Khamenei as a “bad man,” El-Sayed maintained that this did not justify “the breaking of international law and unilateral action… outside of wartime.” He described the actions in the Middle East as “illegal” and “immoral” on Wednesday, blaming a “MAGA-backed movement” for actions that have increased gas prices.

“I just want to remind you that most people in the city of Dearborn and Dearborn Heights are not Arab-American. They are White, and they’re worried, just like I am,” El-Sayed said. “They’re saddened by the fact that their prices go up, and they are watching their gas prices go up with it all to fight a war that we shouldn’t really be a part of.”

Criticism from Former Ambassador

Former Israeli ambassador Michael Oren strongly criticized El-Sayed’s response as a “moral meltdown” during an appearance on ‘America Reports.’ Oren highlighted Khamenei’s alleged human rights abuses and the deaths of Americans attributed to the leader.

“Khamenei is a person who has killed tens of thousands of people… hundreds and hundreds of Americans killed by this man, and the fact that anybody is saddened by his passing… is reprehensible,” Oren stated. He also dismissed El-Sayed’s claims about the legality of U.S. actions, asserting that Iran has engaged in numerous acts of war against the United States.

Campaign Response

El-Sayed’s campaign labeled the report a “distraction” in a statement released Monday. They emphasized the loss of American service members and the rising cost of fuel as consequences of the conflict. “We’re paying over a dollar a gallon more, making life even more unlivable,” El-Sayed said.

The statement further accused a “rightwing news outlet” of illegally obtaining a staff deliberation and attempting to divert attention from the financial burden placed on Americans by former President Trump and the “MAGA base.”

Fox News’ Andrew Mark Miller and Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.