Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has taken a swipe at US Vice President JD Vance after he blamed the Iran war for the Republican Party's defeat in the November 3 midterm elections. Ghalibaf accused the Donald Trump administration of refusing to acknowledge the political consequences of its military campaign against Tehran.
Responding to Vance's lengthy post on X (formerly Twitter), in which the US vice president acknowledged that the war had contributed to the Republican setback, Ghalibaf compared the administration's approach to that of a gambler unwilling to accept defeat.
“Losing gambler energy, can't walk away from the table," he wrote.
Ghalibaf also questioned Vance's position within the Trump administration, suggesting that the US was preparing for another phase of the conflict despite the domestic political fallout.
“Boss is prepping the next war phase while America teeters on an Israel-first cliff. Skip the TED talk. Why not say this to your boss?” he added, in an apparent reference to Trump.
The remarks came amid a political blame game in Washington following major Democratic gains in the midterm elections, which dealt a setback to the Republican administration.
The Iranian leader's remarks also appeared to target Washington's close relationship with Israel, suggesting that the administration's foreign policy was putting American interests at risk.
Why Did JD Vance Blame The Iran War For Republican Losses?
In his post, Vance argued that the Republican Party's defeat was not primarily due to low voter turnout. Instead, he said several voters who had supported Donald Trump and him in the 2024 presidential election had switched their allegiance to Democratic candidates.
Citing feedback from a pollster who had accurately predicted the scale of the Republican setback, Vance identified four major concerns behind the shift:
- Opposition to the ongoing war with Iran.
- Rising living costs and inflation.
- A demand to return to the 'America First' agenda.
- Dissatisfaction with Washington's relationship with Israel.
“The reason we lost is the war. The president himself said so last night,” Vance wrote.
He also questioned whether the military campaign was worth the political consequences, pointing out that Republicans had lost control of the Senate.
“If you'd like to argue it was worth it, that losing the Senate for the next 6 years was worth it, then do so. Argue it was a worthwhile cost to pay. Agree or disagree, that's at least honest,” he added.
What Did Donald Trump Say About The Republican Defeat?
Trump acknowledged that the Iran conflict had contributed to the Republican Party's poor performance, but maintained that launching military action against Tehran was necessary.
Responding to Vance's assessment, the US president said the war had pushed up petrol prices in the short term, affecting voters.
“I think it's largely true because it drove the gasoline up a little bit for a short term,” Trump said.
However, he defended his decision to attack Iran, arguing that preventing Tehran from developing nuclear weapons remained a priority.
“You can't let Iran have a nuclear weapon. You have no choice,” he added.
How Has Iran Responded To The Midterm Results?
Ghalibaf had also welcomed the election outcome in a separate post, linking the Republican setback to public opposition to the war and rising living costs.
“Conscience or the cost of living, Americans said NO TO WAR, and we endorse this message,” he wrote.
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei also weighed in, warning that a change in political leadership in Washington would not necessarily alter America's approach towards Tehran.
He cautioned that any renewed aggression against Iran could trigger a much wider conflict.
The exchange comes as the US-Israeli conflict with Iran continues to carry political and economic consequences, with rising energy prices and opposition to the military campaign emerging as key issues in the American election debate.
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