Khamenei Warns US Hostility Will Persist After Midterm Elections

Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei declared on November 4 that United States hostility toward Tehran will persist regardless of which political party holds power. His warnings followed a major victory for Democrats, who captured majorities in both the Senate and House during the US midterm elections. Khamenei asserted that those expecting a shift in policy due to partisan changes or believing that concessions could end US hostility are "seriously mistaken."

While other Iranian officials celebrated the results, Khamenei cautioned against any "inclination towards submission." Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf characterized the Democratic victory as a public rejection of the war launched by President Donald Trump in February. Similarly, Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei stated that Trump had been "defeated both in war and politics."

President Donald Trump acknowledged that the US-Israeli war against Iran likely contributed to Republican losses due to rising gasoline prices. Despite the political shift, Tehran remains on high alert, fearing Trump may launch retaliatory strikes to compensate for his defeat. Khamenei warned that any repeated aggressions would trigger a response with "much broader dimensions," citing Iran's previous disruption of the Strait of Hormuz and strikes on US bases as evidence of its capabilities. He called for the continued pursuit of comprehensive development to achieve absolute deterrence.