Iranian Leaders: Midterm Results Signal American Rejection of Conflict

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran's Parliament, stated on social media that American voters have clearly rejected the war with the Islamic Republic. He pointed to election projections indicating that Democrats will hold majorities in both the House and Senate for the next two years. Ghalibaf argued that the election outcome reflects a choice driven by conscience or the cost of living, and said Tehran endorses that message.

The Iranian leader issued a warning in the same post. He stated that if the U.S. government betrays the public will to serve international paymasters, it will learn that Iran's rejection comes with a nightmare. The X account of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader, also commented on the results. That account declared that the process of the United States' collapse has accelerated. It added that those hoping for a change in the hegemonic system's behavior or a shift in U.S. political parties are gravely mistaken.

Khamenei had made a similar call on Saturday. He directed Tehran's armed forces to respond to any level or type of threat with an immediate and impactful response. He specified that this response should be geographically unrestricted. The war against Iran has become a central issue in the U.S. midterm elections. President Donald Trump launched joint strikes with Israel against the Islamic Republic in February. The conflict has driven energy prices higher across the United States, feeding concerns about the cost of living.

Trump has partly attributed the Democratic victory to the war. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, he said Iran was a piece of the Republican losses. Even so, the president maintained that he made the right decision. He said he would have done it again and does not think about it now. Washington has not explicitly said it intends to strike Iran again. However, reports from The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times indicate the United States is preparing for possible renewed military action after the midterms.

With their incoming majorities, Democrats may be able to pass a War Powers Resolution. Such a measure would direct Trump to end the conflict unless Congress authorizes it. In June, when Republicans still controlled both chambers, they passed a concurrent resolution to end the war. That measure was not binding and lacked the force of law. Earlier efforts to impose a binding War Powers Resolution failed. The new legislative control gives Democrats a stronger hand in attempting to end the hostilities.