Iran’s Khamenei takes swipe at US democracy in tweet as election tensions exacerbate

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has taken to Twitter to mock the United States over its recent presidential elections, as ballot-counting enters its third day amid increasing division and tension.

The US president has been alleging voter fraud in particular in states where he is losing, prompting many in the Republican party to distance themselves from the baseless accusation.

"What a spectacle!" Khamenei tweeted late on Wednesday.

"One says this is the most fraudulent election in US history. Who says that? The president who is currently in office.

"His rival says Trump intends to rig the election! This is how #USElections & US democracy are."

The US has been scrambling to count mail-in ballots, which number in the millions.

This election has seen a sharp increase in Americans voting remotely due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.

During the election campaign, Joe Biden called on his supporters to use mail-in ballots instead of voting in person for safety reasons. 

As the results have unfolded state by state and Biden picked up a lead in the elections, Trump accused ballot counters of fraud without any proof.

Khamenei previously said that the outcome of the US presidential election will not impact Iran's stance towards Washington.

Under Donald Trump's presidency, Iran-US relations deteriorated significantly, particularly whe Washington's withdrawal from a landmark 2015 nuclear accord between Iran and world powers.

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has pledged to rejoin the accord, which European countries have sought to save since Trump withdrew from it in 2018.

The deal gave Iran relief from sanctions in return for compliance and inspections on its nuclear programme. Since Washington's withdrawal, Iran has reciprocated by breaking uranium enrichment limits set by the deal.

Relations between Washington and Tehran deteriorated further when the US assassinated the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps' (IRGC) Quds Force leader, General Qasem Soleimani in January.

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