Iranian leaders welcome US midterms, but Trump may still attack

What the report says

Iranian officials have responded to the U.S. midterm election results by portraying Donald Trump’s Republican losses as a public rejection of what they describe as his war on Iran. In remarks and social media posts cited by Al Jazeera, senior figures including parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and judiciary chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei argued that the outcome showed American frustration with war and economic pressure, while state-linked outlets echoed the same theme.

The story, published from Tehran on 4 November 2026, came as Iran marked the anniversary of the 1979 U.S. embassy seizure with state-organized rallies and speeches. Al Jazeera reported that officials used the occasion to repeat long-running anti-U.S. messages, including claims that pressure around the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz had undermined American power. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s office, according to the report, said the only path to “deterrence” was strength.

Despite the celebratory tone in Tehran, analysts quoted by Al Jazeera warned that the election result does not rule out further U.S. strikes. They said Trump may still seek a diplomatic exit or use his remaining powers aggressively, while Iran may become less willing to compromise on issues such as the Strait of Hormuz and nuclear negotiations. The reporting suggests the midterms may increase pressure for diplomacy, but not necessarily end the risk of escalation.