How US midterm results reshape global relations from Iran to trade

Democrats' midterm election victories are reshaping global relations, with the most immediate impact on the Iran conflict, where US voters' war weariness may push President Donald Trump toward a peace deal and reduce the likelihood of another full-scale assault on Iran. Gulf governments believe Trump now has more reason to seek an end to the eight-month-old war, which has driven up global fuel prices, though Tehran could interpret the result as weakness and escalate militarily. A Democrat-controlled Congress may also intensify scrutiny of Israel's military operations in Iran, Gaza, and Lebanon, potentially threatening long-standing US military aid to Israel. The election could slow Trump's tariff threats against Asian countries and Europe, while Democrats may propose new Ukraine aid that faces delays and veto challenges. Asian chip and AI stocks fell on Wednesday as investors anticipated potential regulatory pressure on the tech sector.