Vance blames Iran war for Republican midterm losses

Vice President JD Vance blamed the Iran war for the Republican Party's election losses on Tuesday, stating the conflict caused their defeat in the midterms. He argued the war was not worth losing the Senate for six years. Vance publicly supported the initial attacks on Iran but later favored diplomacy, recently offering to lead direct negotiations with Tehran. Qatar is mediating talks, though Washington struck Iranian targets on Monday, and Congress has limited options to end the conflict due to veto constraints. Republicans could attempt to defund operations or impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, though these actions are politically risky and unlikely to be effective until 2027. Trump defended Hegseth on Wednesday, but replacing him before January could ease confirmation.