Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran
Tehran, Oct 5: Iran's chief negotiator with the United States, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has warned Washington against going against public opinion, saying Americans had voted against war, as US President Donald Trump acknowledged that the conflict with Iran contributed to Republican losses in Tuesday's midterm elections.
"Conscience or the cost of living, Americans said NO TO WAR, and we endorse this message," Ghalibaf said in a post on X. He warned that if the US government betrayed the will of its people to serve "international paymasters and blackmailers", it would face what he described as a "Nightmare".
Trump acknowledged that the war had weighed on Republican candidates, with voters possibly unwilling to bear its economic consequences, particularly rising fuel prices. However, he maintained that people understood the importance of his actions against Iran.
"I think a part of it was Iran, but at the same time people understood the importance of what I've done with Iran," Trump said. He added that voters were "probably not willing for the short-term consequence of the price of gasoline".
According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump also said he did not regret launching the war earlier this year.
The United States and Israel jointly launched the war against Iran on February 28, seeking to destabilise the Iranian regime and destroy its ballistic missile and nuclear programmes.
In June, Iran agreed to a memorandum of understanding with the United States, outlining a pathway towards a permanent settlement of the conflict. However, the agreement soon unravelled, with both sides accusing each other of violating its terms.
Iranian officials have repeatedly warned of wide-ranging retaliation if the United States resumes military action.
The remarks came amid significant Democratic gains in several key election contests, including states that Trump had won in the 2024 presidential election. Democrats secured Senate and gubernatorial victories in Georgia, Ohio and Texas, besides making gains in North Carolina, New Hampshire and Kansas.
In Ohio, former state health official Amy Acton defeated Trump-backed Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy in the gubernatorial race, while former senator Sherrod Brown won a Senate seat previously held by Republicans.
In Texas, Democrat James Talarico won a Senate seat, while Hinojosa defeated three-term Republican Governor Greg Abbott.
In Georgia, Senator Jon Ossoff secured re-election, while Lance Bottoms won the gubernatorial contest. Former North Carolina governor Roy Cooper also won the Senate election.
Democratic gains extended to South Carolina, where Annie Andrews defeated Darline Graham, Trump's handpicked candidate to replace the late Senator Lindsey Graham.
In New Hampshire, Democrat Chris Pappas won the Senate race, while Adam Hamilton defeated incumbent Republican Senator Roger Marshall in Kansas.
Democrats are also on course to secure a majority in the House of Representatives, where Republicans began the current Congress with a narrow 220-215 advantage. The Democrats are targeting more than 60 congressional districts, including several where Trump had secured double-digit victories in 2024.