Iran cheers, allies reassure as Democrats sweep Congress

By MNTV Staff Writer

Governments around the world reacted on Wednesday to US midterm elections that handed Democrats control of both chambers of Congress — a stinging setback for President Donald Trump — with Iran casting the result as a rejection of war, Israel’s opposition seizing on it against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and major allies moving quickly to reassure Washington.

Democrats were projected by US media to secure 53 Senate seats to 42 for Republicans as counting continued, and were poised to win at least the 218 seats needed for a majority in the House.

Iran claims vindication

The loudest response came from Tehran, where the result landed against the backdrop of the war Trump and Israel launched on Iran in February. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said American voters had rejected the conflict.

“Whether out of conscience or the cost of living, Americans said NO TO WAR, and we endorse this message,” he wrote on X, warning that if Washington betrayed the will of its people to serve “international paymasters and blackmailers,” it would face a “nightmare.”

Deputy Speaker Ali Nikzad called Trump’s setback the “aftershocks of his defeat against the Iranian people,” saying it reflected the “failure of US efforts to undermine Iran through economic sanctions and pressure,” and warned that any military adventurism in the Strait of Hormuz would meet “a crushing response.”

Seyed Mehdi Tabatabaei, a deputy communications official in the president’s office, tied the Republican defeat directly to US Middle East policy: “Human crimes in Gaza, blind adherence to the interests of the illegitimate Israeli regime, and the endless war with the Islamic Republic of Iran brought the greatest defeat in the history of American elections upon the Republican Party.”

Qatar is continuing to mediate between Washington and Tehran amid tensions over a US naval blockade and the Strait of Hormuz.

Israel’s opposition turns on Netanyahu

In Israel, opposition leaders said the results showed Netanyahu could not survive politically.

Yair Golan, leader of the opposition Democrats party, said the vote revealed “just how toxic Netanyahu is among both Democrats and Republicans,” warning that his continued rule alongside National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir could lead to “international sanctions, international isolation, and a clash with the U.S.”

“Netanyahu lost the elections. He is dangerous to Israel. We have no time to waste. We must form a government of change now,” he said. Lawmaker Gilad Kariv added that Netanyahu “destroyed the relations with the Democratic Party and with half of the Republican Party” and “must not continue to lead.”

Netanyahu’s bloc won 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset in Israel’s recent election, against 48 for Jewish opposition parties and 19 for Arab parties.

Allies stress continuity

Major US allies moved to steady the relationship.

China called the elections a US “domestic affair” and said it wanted a “constructive strategic relationship based on respect and equality,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said, ahead of a planned Xi Jinping–Trump summit later this month in Shenzhen on the sidelines of the APEC forum.

In Tokyo, government spokesman Minoru Kihara said the US alliance “remains essential for global peace and stability, regardless of the outcome,” while adding that Japan would watch financial markets “with a high sense of urgency,” Kyodo News reported.

In Europe, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares called the outcome “a victory of historical dimensions,” predicting the “wave” of change would carry into Spain’s own vote on Nov. 29.

Britain took a more measured line: Health Minister James Frith acknowledged a “seismic shift in domestic politics for the Americans” and “an enormous night for the Democrats,” but stressed the UK would maintain an “excellent relationship” with the Trump administration for the rest of his term.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more leaders respond.