Iranian officials have mocked President Trump over the Republican Party's performance in the midterm elections, interpreting the results as a sign of accelerating U.S. decline and warning of new weapons deployment if conflict is renewed. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf stated on X that "Conscience or the cost of living, Americans said NO TO WAR," endorsing the message and warning Trump against resuming hostilities.
"If the US govt betrays their public will to serve international paymasters and blackmailers, it will learn our NO comes with a Nightmare," added the chief Iranian negotiator. Hamidreza Moghadamfar, an adviser to the Commander-in-Chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), also issued a threat, stating, "If the United States or the Zionists take action, Iran will respond with a new doctrine and new weapons, delivering responses that differ from those of the past."
Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader, released a statement following the midterms, declaring, "The process of the US’s collapse has accelerated." Iranian broadcasters have also joined in, mocking the president over what they perceive as failures in the midterm elections and the conflict. One state-run outlet reportedly joked, "Trump failed at regime change in Iran but he succeeded in Texas."
Prior to the U.S. elections, Iranian officials had sent an open letter to American voters urging them to reject Trump and the war. Reports indicated that Tehran may have used the conflict and high gas prices to influence the outcome of the elections. Senior Iranian officials also confirmed that Tehran deliberately prolonged talks to weaken Trump's negotiating position. Despite the apparent celebrations, Iranian officials remain wary that Trump could retaliate for the midterm results by accelerating plans to strike the country. Trump has previously stated that he would allow diplomacy to proceed but would attack if Iran is not serious about peace negotiations.