No Room for Hope: Khamenei Says US Midterm Results Won't Soften Washington
Iran's Supreme Leader warns against expecting policy shifts from Washington after US midterms, calling concessions a grave miscalculation.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei has sent a clear and stern message to his people and the world: do not expect the results of the US midterm elections to change the hostile relationship between Tehran and Washington. In a definitive statement, the Supreme Leader asserted that shifts between American political parties will neither alter Iran's defensive strategy nor diminish the long-standing aggression of the United States toward the Iranian nation.
A Warning Against Concessions
Addressing the aftermath of the elections, Ayatollah Khamenei warned that viewing the political setbacks of the ruling establishment in the US as an opportunity for diplomacy is a dangerous error. He explicitly cautioned that any attempt to persuade the US to abandon its hostility through concessions would be a "grave miscalculation."
"If there are still those who entertain even the slightest hope that the hegemonic system may change its behavior or that shifts in its political parties and factions may bring about a change... they are gravely mistaken," the Supreme Leader stated, according to the IRNA news agency.
Khamenei argued that expecting a policy shift ignores historical lessons and betrays the sacrifices made by the Iranian people. He characterized the belief in a change of heart from Washington as an act of "ingratitude" for the victories achieved through national resistance and faith.
The Cost of Submission
The Supreme Leader was blunt about the perceived goals of the United States, referring to it as the "Great Satan" and claiming that Washington seeks nothing less than the "unconditional surrender" of Iran. He warned that any sign of compliance or submission to foreign pressure would not bring peace, but would instead invite more aggression.
According to Khamenei, even a slight inclination toward submission would waste the "immense capital" gained through the blood of martyrs and the sacrifices of the nation. He warned that such weakness would only embolden the "arrogant enemy" to escalate its demands, trigger more wars, and launch further acts of aggression.
Iran's Path: Deterrence and Self-Reliance
Looking toward the future, the Supreme Leader reaffirmed Iran's broader security doctrine. He emphasized that the only viable path forward for the country consists of three pillars:
- Building internal strength: Enhancing the nation's own capabilities.
- Absolute national deterrence: Ensuring the country can defend itself against any threat.
- Strengthening social cohesion: Maintaining unity within the Iranian population.
Khamenei noted that reflecting on the history of US hostility—ranging from the 1953 coup to economic sanctions and military actions—serves as a "guiding light." He pointed to developments in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz as proof that foreign military power has limits and that Iran's strategy of self-reliance is effective.
The US Perspective: A Costly Conflict
These remarks come amidst significant political turmoil within the United States. US Vice President JD Vance has explicitly identified the conflict with Iran as the primary driver behind the Republican Party's sweeping defeat in the 2026 midterm elections. In a candid post, Vance revealed that internal data showed strong conservative turnout, but the war outweighed other factors.
Vance stated that the "real reason" for the loss was the war, noting that President Donald Trump shared this view. President Trump himself acknowledged in a phone interview with The Wall Street Journal that the military conflict in Iran contributed to the widespread Republican defeat on Tuesday night.