Ghalibaf Says U.S. Voted Against War as Democrats Take Congress

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran's parliament, declared on Tuesday that American voters have spoken against war. He cited election projections showing Democrats winning majorities in both the House and Senate for the next two years. Ghalibaf posted the message on X, stating that whether driven by conscience or the cost of living, the U.S. public said "NO TO WAR." He added that Iran endorses this message.

The speaker issued a stern warning to the incoming leadership. He wrote that if the U.S. government betrays the will of its people to serve "international paymasters and blackmailers," it will learn that Iran's "NO comes with a Nightmare." This rhetoric follows a similar stance taken by Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader. Khamenei's X account stated that the process of the U.S.'s collapse has accelerated. He argued that any hope for the hegemonic system to change its behavior or end its hostility through political shifts is "gravely mistaken."

The timing of these comments coincides with a shift in military posture. On Saturday, Khamenei instructed Tehran's armed forces to answer any level or type of threat with an "immediate, impactful, and geographically unrestricted response." The conflict has heavily influenced the political landscape in Washington. President Donald Trump launched joint strikes with Israel against Iran in February. The war has driven up energy prices across the United States, fueling voter concerns about the cost of living.

Trump has acknowledged the war's role in the election results. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, he said "Iran was a piece of it" regarding the Republican losses. Despite this, the president maintained that he made the correct decision. He told the publication, "I don't think about it. I did the right thing. I would have done it again."

Washington has not explicitly announced plans to strike Iran again, but reports from The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times indicate the U.S. is preparing for possible renewed military action. With their new majorities, Democrats are positioned to pass a War Powers Resolution. Such a measure would direct Trump to end the conflict unless Congress authorizes it. In June, when Republicans controlled both chambers, they passed a non-binding concurrent resolution to end the war. Previous attempts to pass a binding War Powers Resolution have failed.

The incoming Democratic control of Congress creates a new dynamic for U.S. foreign policy. The party now holds the legislative power to attempt to check executive military authority. This follows a period where the war on Iran became a central issue in the midterm elections.