Iran Vows More Defeats After Democratic Midterm Sweep — SkimNews
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- Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the Democrats’ sweeping midterm victories showed that “Americans said NO TO WAR,” while warning that Tehran’s rejection would come with a “Nightmare”; he led the Iranian delegation in June talks that produced a short-lived memorandum with Washington.
- Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, head of the Iranian judiciary, said Trump “was defeated in both war and politics” and promised the Islamic Republic would impose more defeats.
- Hamidreza Azizi said the leaders’ sense of victory will make them more uncompromising on seven conditions for partially reopening the Strait of Hormuz and a US first step; he said the likelihood of nuclear concessions could become even lower.
- Sanam Vakil said the Republican electoral defeat increases pressure to end the Iran war but does not rule out further strikes, and called an interim Hormuz agreement and lifting the blockade more realistic than a comprehensive settlement.
- Mojtaba Khamenei said in a statement marking the 1979 seizure of the US embassy that partisan changes in the US or concessions to Washington would not stop Iran’s “enmity,” adding that “absolute deterrence” required strength.
- Iran held state-organized demonstrations and speeches marking the embassy seizure anniversary, including an Enghelab Square event where a billboard depicted Trump behind prison bars with the message “We will kill Trump.”
- Trump has discussed attacking Iran for weeks while saying he has made no decision; Barbara Slavin said the Democratic victory makes all-out war less likely but warned that his commander-in-chief powers remain especially potent before the new Congress sits.
Why it matters: Iran’s seven conditions for partially reopening the Strait of Hormuz gain leverage after the Democratic sweep, with one requirement that the US move first. Trump loses political room for all-out war but retains commander-in-chief powers until the new Congress sits; Vakil judges an interim Hormuz deal more realistic than a comprehensive settlement.
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