KHAMENEI WARNS WASHINGTON: IRAN SAYS US HOSTILITY WILL CONTINUE REGARDLESS OF WHO CONTROLS CONGRESS
November 4, 2026
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Wednesday declared that hostility between Tehran and Washington would persist regardless of political changes in the United States, arguing that neither a shift in party control nor concessions to the American government would alter Washington’s approach towards Iran.
His remarks came after the Republican Party suffered major defeats in the US midterm elections, with Democrats securing control of both chambers of Congress.
Khamenei said those expecting a change in American policy towards Iran following the electoral setback were “greatly mistaken”. He maintained that US hostility was not dependent on which political party held power in Washington, signalling that Tehran did not expect the Democratic gains to bring an improvement in bilateral relations.
The Iranian leader also issued a warning over the possibility of renewed American military action against his country, saying that any further US aggression would provoke a response on a much greater scale.
Referring to Iran’s military campaign against American interests in the region, Khamenei said the destruction of US bases and Tehran’s management of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz had formed part of a broader confrontation against what he described as American hegemony.
“The US sees the end of its hegemony as distant; we see it as near,” he said.
The statement underscores Tehran’s position that the political developments inside the United States would not fundamentally change its strategic confrontation with Washington. It also comes amid continuing tensions over the Iran war, regional military operations and control of critical energy and maritime routes.
Khamenei’s remarks suggest that Iran is maintaining its hard-line position towards the United States despite the Republican electoral losses, with the prospect of renewed military confrontation remaining a central concern in relations between the two countries.
