Trump's Iran War Policy Faces Uncertain Future After Midterm Defeat

Iran views the Republican defeat in the U.S. midterm elections as a rejection of the Trump administration's war policy, with top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf saying Americans voted "no to war." Trump partially acknowledged the conflict's role in the electoral loss. The war, launched February 28 with U.S. and Israeli involvement, has driven up global fuel prices and inflation, hitting Trump's working-class base. However, political scientist Michel Liégeois cautions against interpreting the midterms as a binding mandate, noting they are primarily local elections. Liégeois assesses a large-scale resumption of war as unlikely due to depleted U.S. munitions and Democratic control over budget approvals. Meanwhile, contradictory signals persist, including U.S. strikes near Ormuz and Trump's announcement ending military aid to Israel, which analysts see as reflecting shifting bipartisan consensus.