Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf interprets the 2026 US midterm election results as a public rejection of military confrontation with Tehran and warns Washington against ignoring voters.
TEHRAN: Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has welcomed the outcome of the 2026 US midterm elections, claiming that American voters have rejected war against Iran and delivered a message opposing further military confrontation with Tehran.
Reacting to the election results on Wednesday, Ghalibaf said Americans had effectively voted against war, whether motivated by their conscience or growing concerns over the rising cost of living. He said Iran supported the message he believed had been delivered through the ballot box.
“Whether it is the voice of conscience or the rising cost of living, Americans have said no to war, and we support this message,” Ghalibaf said in a statement posted on social media.
He also warned the US administration against disregarding public opinion in favour of what he described as international powers and blackmailers. Ghalibaf said Washington would face serious consequences if it ignored the wishes of its citizens, adding that Iran’s rejection of such pressure would bring a “nightmare” for those attempting to impose their demands on Tehran.
His remarks followed a significant setback for President Donald Trump’s Republican Party in the November 3 midterm elections, in which Democrats secured control of both chambers of Congress, according to reported results.
The election outcome marked a major political challenge for Trump, with voters expressing concerns over the Iran conflict, rising living costs and other domestic issues. The results also intensified debate over the economic consequences of Washington’s military involvement in the Middle East.
Trump acknowledged that the Iran conflict had contributed to his party’s disappointing electoral performance. In comments to US media, he said the war was among the factors behind the Republican losses, while suggesting that voters might have been unwilling to bear its short-term economic consequences, particularly higher petrol prices.
Rising fuel costs and pressure on household budgets had become important issues during the election campaign, providing Democrats with an opportunity to challenge the administration’s policies.
Ghalibaf’s statement reflects Tehran’s attempt to portray the Republican setbacks as evidence of growing American opposition to military confrontation with Iran. His interpretation, however, does not establish that opposition to the conflict was the decisive factor in individual voters’ decisions.
The election results have added a new political dimension to already strained relations between Washington and Tehran. While Ghalibaf has presented the outcome as a rejection of war, the coming congressional debate and the Trump administration’s response will help shape the next phase of US policy toward Iran.
For Tehran, the remarks also provide an opportunity to highlight the domestic political and economic costs of continued military confrontation, as tensions between the two countries remain a central issue in international diplomacy.
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