Iranian officials see US midterm results as rejection of Trump's war policy

Iranian officials celebrated Democratic gains in the U.S. midterm elections as a rejection of President Donald Trump's war policy, with Tehran demonstrators burning American flags and chanting anti-U.S. slogans on Wednesday. Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, said those hoping for U.S. policy changes are "gravely mistaken," while parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf endorsed the message "Americans said NO TO WAR." The results came amid an ongoing conflict that began in late February, with U.S. voters frustrated by rising fuel and food prices. The war has disrupted global energy markets and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, where limited strikes occurred Monday. Back-channel negotiations continue, with Vice President JD Vance expressing optimism about a potential settlement, though Israel has reportedly pushed for more strikes.