Iran's Supreme Leader Says US 'Collapse Has Accelerated' After Midterm Results

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has described the outcome of the US midterm elections as evidence that America's standing is eroding, writing on social media that "the process of the US's collapse has accelerated." The comment followed a sweeping defeat for President Trump's congressional allies in Tuesday's vote.

According to reports, several of the president's political advisers linked the Republican losses to the ongoing conflict with Iran, which has contributed to higher energy prices and broader inflation pressures. The election results have renewed debate in Washington over the direction and cost of the military campaign.

Trump has indicated that the vote will not change his approach toward Iran, even though Democratic control of the House and Senate is expected to intensify pressure on the administration to wind down the conflict. The outgoing Republican-held Congress had already passed legislation requiring the president to end hostilities, and Democratic majorities now have additional tools at their disposal, including the ability to withhold funding, block key nominations and pursue impeachment proceedings against officeholders.

Khamenei, who under Iran's political system must approve any agreement with the United States, made the remarks even as his foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said on Sunday that "very intensive" peace talks were under way. The juxtaposition of defiant public statements and active diplomacy has fueled uncertainty about how quickly a negotiated settlement might materialize.

Trump said on Monday that he would not resume major operations against Iran following the midterms. In a separate and unexpected move on Tuesday, he announced plans to end $4 billion in annual US aid to Israel, which has carried out strikes on Iran alongside the United States, saying the decision was intended to deny a talking point to politicians opposed to the Jewish state.

The developments come at a delicate moment for the region and for US foreign policy, with markets, allies and regional governments watching closely for signs of whether the conflict will wind down or escalate. The incoming congressional leadership has signaled it intends to scrutinize the war's costs and its diplomatic trajectory in the weeks ahead.