World leaders assess U.S. midterm outcomes and future policy on Iran

U.S. midterm elections have prompted reactions from officials in Iran, Europe and the Middle East as they consider the impact on ongoing tensions with Tehran. Iranian demonstrators said the country would respond to any U.S. military action, while Iran’s chief negotiator welcomed the recent U.S. electoral outcome as a chance to end the conflict.

President Donald Trump told reporters that the war in Iran had caused a short-term rise in gasoline prices and indicated that a decision on further military steps could be made soon. He also said the United States would stop providing grants to Israel for American-made weapons, shifting the cost to the Israeli government.

European officials, including Kaja Kallas, the European Commission’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, expressed hope that a new Democratic Congress would continue support for Ukraine and increase pressure on Russia. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the election could usher in a new era of international relations.

According to senior regional and U.S. officials, negotiations before the election were close to a memorandum of understanding that would have allowed Iran to down-blend highly enriched uranium in exchange for sanctions relief and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Vice President Kamala Vance reportedly wrote to Iran’s National Security Council chief Mohsen Rezaei about the proposal.

U.S. officials said President Trump has not cancelled a planned short, intense bombing campaign against Iran, but it has been postponed. The administration is weighing three options: resume military pressure, pursue a diplomatic deal, or maintain economic sanctions.

Both Iranian and regional officials indicated that Tehran may adopt a tougher negotiating stance after perceiving the Democratic victories as a setback for the United States.