Qalibaf: Americans said NO TO WAR, and we endorse this message
Iran's parliament speaker framed Tuesday's congressional shift as a rejection of the conflict, even as the supreme leader remained skeptical of a policy change.
By Lauren Bello ·
Tehran officials moved to capitalize on a decisive electoral loss for President Donald Trump on Wednesday, interpreting Tuesday's vote as a direct rebuke of his war strategy. The shift in power in Washington has left regional leaders watching closely to determine if Washington will halt military operations against Iran. The outcome handed control of Congress to the Democrats, a result driven by voter concerns over the ongoing conflict and rising fuel prices.
Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Iran's chief negotiator and speaker of parliament, took to the social platform X to voice the government's reaction. He declared that "Americans said NO TO WAR, and we endorse this message." Qalibaf issued a warning to the incoming administration, stating that if Washington ignores the vote for change, "it will learn our NO comes with a Nightmare."
Despite the celebratory tone from the parliament, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the supreme leader, took a more cautious stance. He dismissed the idea that the United States would alter its approach toward the Islamic Republic. The region remains tense as diplomatic talks continue in an effort to prevent a resumption of full-scale fighting.
Public sentiment in Iran was visible in the streets on Wednesday. Thousands of people joined a government-organized march in Tehran to mark the anniversary of the 1979 takeover of the U.S. Embassy. Demonstrators burned American and Israeli flags while chanting "Death to America" and "Death to Israel."
In Yemen, the Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed to have launched attacks on the Saudi capital. Military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group fired a ballistic missile at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, citing "major damages." He also reported a drone strike on a radar site and a missile hit on a command center in Jazan province. The Associated Press could not independently verify these claims, and the Saudi information ministry had not responded to comment requests by Wednesday.
Saudi civil defense authorities issued overnight alerts in Riyadh and warnings of potential danger in Jazan and Najran. The Houthis have frequently targeted Saudi oil and logistics infrastructure, framing these actions as a response to a "blockade" on Yemen. Separately, Houthi health officials reported that at least seven people, including two children, died in an airstrike on a house in Maqbanah, Taiz province. The ministry blamed Saudi Arabia for the strike, which also wounded six other children.
In southern Lebanon, the Health Ministry reported that a drone strike on a motorcycle in the village of Qabrikha killed one person and wounded another. The Israeli military stated it "struck two suspects who were observing IDF soldiers" without providing additional details. This was the first such strike in nearly a month, following a ceasefire brokered by the United States in late June.
UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix warned that Lebanon faces a "security vacuum" when the UNIFIL mission ends on December 31. He questioned who would monitor the Blue Line border without a third-party presence, noting that efforts to disarm Hezbollah had failed due to a lack of "political will." The UN Security Council is scheduled to discuss the mission's future on November 19.
