Trump says he has no regrets over striking Iran; Iranian Parliament Speaker mocks: 'American voters have said no to war.'
The Republican Party’s defeat in the midterm elections now appears inevitable, and once again, Iran has emerged victorious.
When asked about the U.S. midterm election results, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated plainly that the outcome reflects American public sentiment against war. He emphasized that the U.S. people have clearly rejected the conflicts initiated under the Trump administration, a stance Iran endorses. Defying such popular will, he warned, would lead to "nightmares."
In reality, what Americans may support is not necessarily an end to all warfare, but rather the conclusion of a conflict they perceive as unwinnable. As the aggressor in any military escalation, it often takes a significant and painful defeat for a nation to recognize the illegitimacy of its own aggressive actions. Put simply, the public is not inherently opposed to war—it opposes defeat.
What truly alienated American voters was not the war itself, but the surge in oil prices triggered by Middle East hostilities. Even Trump acknowledged that the Iran-related conflict contributed to Republican losses. However, beyond driving up energy costs, he maintained that the campaign itself was not wrong—history, he insisted, would vindicate his position.
Regardless, the Republican Party’s electoral defeat is strategically beneficial to Iran. At minimum, a Democratic-controlled Congress would have greater capacity to block any new war-related legislation, making it more difficult for the Pentagon to secure congressional funding.
Yet the president retains substantial authority. As commander-in-chief, Trump could unilaterally order military deployments and direct operations. If determined to proceed, even a Democratic majority might struggle to stop him—despite numerous Republican lawmakers having previously opposed a strike on Iran, without success before the midterms.
The earlier pledge to resume hostilities after the election may now prove unfulfillable. In his most recent remarks, Trump indicated no urgency to restart attacks on Iran and has even suspended the annual $4 billion military aid package to Israel.
The consequences of poor alliances are stark—and for the U.S. president, they can be particularly severe.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1880917738050697/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.