Khamenei warns against expecting US policy shift after midterms

Iran’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has warned that it would be a serious mistake to expect political changes in Washington to end what he describes as US hostility towards Iran.

His written message, published on his official website on Wednesday, came as Democrats won control of both chambers of the US Congress in the midterm elections. It did not explicitly mention the election.

Khamenei also rejected the idea that concessions could persuade Washington to abandon its hostility. He argued that a willingness to submit would encourage further US demands and wars. In the English version of the message, he said those who expected a change through party shifts or concessions were “gravely mistaken”.

The message marked Iran’s National Day of Fighting Global Arrogance, which commemorates the 1979 seizure of the US embassy in Tehran. Khamenei also warned that a repeat of what he called US aggression would bring a much more extensive response.

The United States and Israel launched a war against Iran on 28 February. Talks aimed at preventing a return to full-scale fighting are continuing, according to the Associated Press. US Vice President JD Vance said on Monday that he and President Donald Trump felt positive about the prospects for a possible negotiated settlement.

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said on Wednesday that Americans had voted against the war. Iranian state media reported last month that Qalibaf met Khamenei to discuss the war and the economy.