Not enough that he was humiliated militarily in Iran… now he is humiliated electorally as well. This is the message that many analysts around the world "read" for US President Donald Trump following the electoral defeat sustained by himself and his party in the November 3, 2026 midterm elections. This is also what Iranians read, advising him to listen to Americans who disapproved of the war in Iran. For Tehran, of course, no changes will occur in the state of high alert and operational readiness, as it continues to face off with US forces for control of the Strait of Hormuz. However, Iranian leadership does not hide its satisfaction over political developments in the US, attempting to leverage the midterm election result as an indication of rejection regarding Donald Trump's war policy. The prevalence of Democrats, who regained control of the Senate and secured a majority in the House of Representatives, is viewed by Tehran as a severe political blow for the American President and his choice to lead the US into war with Iran, influencing US-Iran military relations.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf: Americans said "no to war"
The Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, in a post on platform X on the morning of Wednesday, November 4, 2026, maintained that American voters sent a clear message against war. "Americans overwhelmingly said NO TO WAR," he characteristically noted, adding that Tehran supports this message. According to him, American society rejected the war either for reasons of conscience or due to increased cost of living. Concurrently, he addressed a stern warning toward the Trump administration, emphasizing that any attempt to bypass the public will could lead to exceptionally dangerous developments. "If the US government betrays the will of its people to serve international directors and blackmailers, it will find that our NO is accompanied by a Nightmare," underscored Ghalibaf, shaping Strait of Hormuz tension.
Conscience or the cost of living, Americans said NO TO WAR, and we endorse this message. If the US govt betrays their public will to serve international paymasters and blackmailers, it will learn our NO comes with a Nightmare.
— محمدباقر قالیباف | MB Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf) November 4, 2026
Mojtaba Khamenei: US hostile stance toward Iran will not change
For his part, the Supreme Leader of Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei, attempted to curb expectations for a potential change in American policy toward Tehran, despite the electoral defeat of Republicans. In a message on the occasion of November 4, designated "National Day of Iran Against Global Arrogance," he warned that political realignments in the US are not going to substantially alter Washington's stance. "If there are still those harboring even the slightest hope that the behavior of the hegemonic system can change through party or political realignments, or believe that concessions toward the US could persuade them to abandon their hostility toward the Iranian people, they make a grave mistake," he noted in a statement broadcast by Iranian state media. Mojtaba Khamenei appeared, indeed, certain that the retreat of American hegemony stands closer than Washington itself estimates. "The US considers that the end of its hegemony stands far away. We consider it near," he stated characteristically, reflecting Iranian political leadership stance.
NBC: Tehran treats election result as rejection of war
American network NBC, commenting on the reaction of Iranian leadership, noted that the heavy electoral defeat of President Donald Trump's Republicans was received in Iran with visible satisfaction. As it observed, Tehran presents the midterm election outcome as a rejection of the war unleashed against it by the US and Israel. At the same time, Iranian state media did not hide their satisfaction over developments. News agency Tasnim, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), published a characteristic headline stating: "War against Iran emerges as major factor in Republicans' electoral defeat," defining IRGC media analysis.
Politico: "Heavy defeat for Trump and his supporters"
Similar was the approach of state Iranian news agency IRNA, which featured as its main headline the "heavy defeat for Trump and his supporters." The report spoke of an "unprecedented level of dissatisfaction toward US President Donald Trump," attributing the electoral shift to a large degree to the war. As Politico reported, even supporters of anti-war policy in Washington rushed to characterize the result as a victory for Tehran. Indicative was the positioning of Trita Parsi, co-founder of the Quincy Institute, an organization opposing US military interventions: "Democrats did not win the midterm elections. Iran won," he characteristically wrote on social media, impacting Washington anti-war debate.
Donald Trump: "I am absolutely convinced it was the right decision"
Despite political developments and Tehran's effort to present the election result as a condemnation of American war strategy, Donald Trump shows no disposition to revise his stance. The American President stated he remains "absolutely convinced" that the decision to launch the war with Iran was correct. In an interview with Fox, he acknowledged that the low popularity of the war among the American public constituted "part" of the reasons leading to major Republican losses in the midterm elections. However, he insisted he had no other option, maintaining that military action was necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. In a separate interview with Politico, he repeated that he considers starting the war the right choice on a long-term horizon. Donald Trump insists, consequently, that his decision will be vindicated by History, despite the heavy political cost it appears to have already caused domestically in the US, illustrating Trump war policy defense.
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