The streets of Tehran and other Iranian cities were filled on Wednesday with large marches to commemorate the 47th anniversary of the takeover of the U.S. embassy 70 years ago, in a day that became a double celebration: the historical anniversary and the Republican defeat in the midterm elections that took place just 24 hours earlier.
In front of the building of the former diplomatic delegation — which the Iranian regime refers to as the "Nest of Spies" — banners featuring caricatures and hostile messages against Donald Trump were displayed, accompanied by the usual chants of "death to the United States" and "death to Israel," according to a report from the EFE Agency from Tehran.
Images of the Supreme Leader Mojtaba Jamenei aiming with a rifle were also displayed.
Iranian authorities interpreted the loss of the Senate and the House of Representatives by the Republicans as their own victory and as a rejection of the American electorate towards the war.
The President of the Iranian Parliament and the country's chief negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, posted on X: "The Americans said NO TO WAR, and we support this message." He also warned that if Trump ignored that popular will and resumed the attacks, he would encounter an Iranian "nightmare."
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ismail Bagaei, was more direct and stated that Trump, "driven by greed and arrogance" and in service of Israel, led his country into a conflict that ultimately cost him the election.
However, Jamenei's tone was more cautious. The supreme leader warned that those who expect a change in Washington's policy due to the alternation of parties "are deeply mistaken" and dismissed any concessions, stating that "the declining power and hegemony of the United States have experienced an irreversible decline in both their military power and their international soft power."
The wartime context largely explains the magnitude of the Republican defeat. The conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran erupted on February 28, 2026, with Operation Epic Fury, a coordinated airstrike against Iranian nuclear and military facilities.
Iran responded by closing the Strait of Hormuz, through which between 20% and 25% of the world's oil passes. This caused the price of regular gasoline in the U.S. to soar from $2.98 per gallon before the war to $4.48 in May, while diesel reached $6.35 in October.
A poll cited by ABC News revealed that 71% of Americans considered gasoline unaffordable in October 2026, compared to 28% recorded in February.
Trump himself acknowledged that the war with Iran influenced the loss: "I think part of it was Iran," he told Fox News, though he defended his decision: "I did the right thing. I would do it again."
Vice President JD Vance was even more emphatic. In a post on X, he wrote: "The reason we lost is the war. The president himself said so last night."
The Democrats projected about 244 seats in the House of Representatives, well above the 218 needed for a majority, and won the Senate with historic victories in Texas, Kansas, South Carolina, Ohio, and Iowa.
Despite the celebration, two senior Iranian officials cited by Reuters warned that Tehran feared Trump might try to offset his defeat with a new military attack, which is why the country remained on high alert. Indirect negotiations mediated by Qatar and Pakistan remain stalled: Iran demands full compliance with seven conditions, including the lifting of sanctions and an end to the maritime blockade.
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