Iran’s chief negotiator in talks with the United States said Wednesday that Americans voted “no to war” in the midterm elections, and warned Washington not to ignore that message.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s parliament, made the comments in a post on X a day after Republicans suffered widespread losses at the polls.
“Conscience or the cost of living, Americans said NO TO WAR, and we endorse this message,” he wrote.
He added a warning. If the U.S. government betrays the will of its people “to serve international paymasters and blackmailers, it will learn our NO comes with a Nightmare,” Ghalibaf said.
President Donald Trump acknowledged Tuesday night that the war played a part in his party’s losses. “Part of it was Iran,” he said in a phone interview with Fox News, adding that people understand “the importance of what I’ve done.”
In a separate interview, he said he had no regrets. “I did the right thing. I would have done it again,” Trump said.
The United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran in February. Fighting paused in April, but the conflict has stalled for months, with occasional exchanges of fire. Higher fuel prices tied to the war were a major issue for voters.
Indirect talks between the two sides are being mediated by Qatar, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. A senior Iranian security official said Tuesday that the latest U.S. response was “not convincing.”
Tension also remains high at sea. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said Wednesday that four oil tankers were destroyed after hitting naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz and that two other ships had been stopped.
A Qatari official said mediators have put forward a new proposal and expect a reply within 36 hours.