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November 4, 2026
By Stephen Iwuh | Dalena Reporters
Iranian officials have welcomed the Democratic Party's sweeping victory in the United States midterm elections, describing the results as a rejection of President Donald Trump's military campaign against Iran and his administration's foreign policy.
The reaction came Wednesday after Democrats secured control of both chambers of the US Congress in Tuesday's elections, delivering a major political setback to Trump and the Republican Party.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, who also serves as Tehran's chief negotiator in discussions with Washington, said the American electorate had sent a clear message against war.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, Qalibaf declared that Americans had said "NO TO WAR" and that Iran supported the message.
He also warned Washington against ignoring public opinion by continuing military action against Iran, arguing that the election results demonstrated growing opposition to the conflict among American voters.
Trump acknowledges Iran war contributed to Republican losses
In a significant response to the election outcome, Trump acknowledged that the war involving the United States, Israel and Iran contributed to the Republican Party's defeat.
Speaking in separate interviews with Fox News and The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, the president admitted that the conflict was one of the factors behind his party's poor performance.
"I think a part of it was Iran," Trump said during the Fox News interview.
However, he defended his decision to launch military action against Tehran, insisting that he had made the right decision.
"I did the right thing," Trump told The Wall Street Journal, adding that he would have made the same decision again.
The comments came despite the Republican losses and Trump's previous campaign promises to avoid new wars.
The conflict has become a major political issue in the United States, particularly because of its economic consequences. Democratic candidates repeatedly argued that the war had contributed to rising fuel prices and increased the cost of everyday goods.
The disruption of international shipping and energy supplies has also placed additional pressure on consumers and businesses.
Iran's supreme leader warns that US political changes will not end hostility
While Iranian officials celebrated the Democratic victory, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei cautioned against assuming that a change in political power in Washington would fundamentally alter America's relationship with Iran.
In a written statement released Wednesday, Khamenei said those expecting a change in American hostility because of political or party changes were mistaken.
He also warned against believing that concessions to Washington would necessarily persuade the United States to abandon its opposition to the Iranian government.
His comments reflected Tehran's long-standing distrust of successive American administrations, regardless of which political party controls the White House or Congress.
The statement also demonstrated that, despite welcoming the Democratic election victory, Iranian leaders do not necessarily expect the new congressional balance to produce an immediate improvement in relations.
Iranian media celebrate Trump's political setback
Iranian newspapers and state-linked media outlets also used the election results to criticise Trump's leadership and the American military campaign.
One Iranian newspaper, Hamshahri, published a front-page presentation linking the US elections to the longstanding confrontation between Washington and Tehran.
Another conservative publication, Jam-e Jam, described the election outcome as the twilight of Trumpism.
Iranian officials also connected the result to the anniversary of the 1979 takeover of the US Embassy in Tehran, an event that resulted in 52 American diplomats and citizens being held hostage for 444 days.
Thousands of people participated in demonstrations in Tehran on Wednesday to mark the anniversary. Protesters burned American and Israeli flags and displayed images criticising Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Tehran Mayor Alireza Zakani described the American election results as evidence of the consequences of Washington's policies towards Iran.
Concerns grow over possible renewed military confrontation
Despite celebrating the Republican defeat, Iranian officials remain concerned about the possibility that Trump could intensify military operations following the elections.
According to Reuters, two senior Iranian sources said Tehran was worried that the president might respond to the domestic political setback by ordering further military action.
The concerns come amid continuing tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important international shipping routes.
Iran has severely restricted shipping through the waterway since the conflict began, while Washington has maintained a naval blockade targeting Iranian ports.
The disruption has affected global energy markets and increased concerns about the security of commercial vessels operating in the region.
The Associated Press also reported that explosions were reported on Iranian islands and near the southern port city of Bandar Abbas shortly before the election. Iranian authorities had not publicly provided full details about the locations affected or the extent of the damage.
Diplomatic negotiations continue despite military tensions
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts involving regional mediators are continuing in an attempt to prevent a return to full-scale fighting.
Qatar and other regional countries have been involved in efforts to bring Washington and Tehran closer to an agreement.
US Vice-President JD Vance previously expressed optimism about the possibility of reaching a negotiated settlement, although disagreements over Iran's demands, American sanctions, military deployments and the Strait of Hormuz remain major obstacles.
Trump has alternated between expressing interest in a diplomatic agreement and threatening renewed military action if negotiations fail.
Iranian officials have maintained that their country is prepared to defend itself against further attacks, while insisting that Washington must address Tehran's conditions for ending the conflict.
The election results have therefore introduced another political dimension into negotiations that were already complicated by military and economic disagreements.
Democratic victory changes the political environment in Washington
The Democrats' success in securing control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate will create significant challenges for Trump's remaining legislative agenda.
With Republicans losing their congressional majorities, the administration will face greater opposition to its proposed legislation, government spending priorities and foreign policy decisions.
Trump has already indicated that he expects Democratic lawmakers to introduce legislation he opposes and has threatened to veto proposals he considers unacceptable.
However, the election outcome does not automatically transfer control of American foreign policy away from the president. The White House continues to exercise significant authority over military operations and diplomatic decisions.
Congress nevertheless has important powers involving government funding, oversight and legislation, giving Democratic lawmakers additional opportunities to scrutinise the administration's approach to Iran.
A new chapter in the US-Iran confrontation
Iran's reaction to the American election results highlights how closely the conflict has become connected to domestic political developments in the United States.
For Tehran, the Democratic victory provides an opportunity to argue that Trump's military strategy has failed to secure broad public support among Americans.
For Trump, however, acknowledging the political consequences of the war has not meant abandoning his justification for military action.
The immediate question is whether the new political environment will encourage Washington to prioritise negotiations or whether tensions will continue to escalate around the Strait of Hormuz and other strategic locations.
Although Iran has welcomed the Republican defeat, its leadership has also made clear that it does not expect a change in congressional control to resolve decades of hostility between the two countries.
As diplomatic negotiations continue and military forces remain active in the region, the election results may influence the political calculations of both governments, but a lasting settlement will depend on whether Washington and Tehran can reach agreement on the fundamental issues dividing them.