Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Thursday took a swipe at US Vice President JD Vance after he blamed the war against Iran for the Republican Party's defeat in the midterm elections, accusing the Donald Trump administration of refusing to acknowledge the consequences of the conflict.
Responding to Vance's lengthy social media post analysing the Republican electoral setback, Ghalibaf mocked the administration's approach to the war and suggested that Washington was preparing for another phase of military confrontation despite growing domestic opposition.
"Losing gambler energy, can't walk away from the table," Ghalibaf wrote on X.
"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.
The remarks appeared to be directed at Trump and his administration's handling of the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran. Ghalibaf's reference to an "Israel-First cliff" reflected Tehran's accusation that Washington was prioritising Israeli interests over those of American citizens.
𝗩𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗜𝗿𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝗿
The Iranian leader's criticism followed Vance's assessment of the November 3 midterm elections, in which Democrats secured control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
In a lengthy post on X on Wednesday, Vance argued that the Republican defeat was not primarily the result of low voter turnout but reflected dissatisfaction among people who had supported Trump and Vance in the 2024 presidential election.
He said many of those voters had shifted their support to Democrats because of the administration's policies, particularly the continuing military conflict with Iran.
"The reason we lost is the war. The president himself said so last night," Vance wrote.
The Vice President said an election analyst had warned him before polling that several Trump supporters were dissatisfied with the administration and intended to vote for Democratic candidates.
According to Vance, the voters identified four principal concerns: ending the Iran war, addressing inflation and the rising cost of living, returning to the administration's 'America First' agenda and reconsidering Washington's relationship with Israel.
He maintained that Republican supporters had participated in the elections but that a significant number had voted against the party because of these concerns.
Vance also questioned whether the military campaign had been worth the political consequences.
"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," he said.
The Vice President argued that any serious discussion about rebuilding Republican support would have to acknowledge the impact of the war on the electorate.
𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
Trump, meanwhile, acknowledged that the conflict had contributed to the Republican Party's electoral losses but defended his decision to launch military operations against Iran.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, the President said the war was one of the factors behind the setback but maintained that preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons remained a greater priority.
"I think part of it was Iran, but at the same time, people understood the importance of what I have done with Iran," Trump said.
He argued that the long-term significance of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons outweighed the immediate political consequences of the conflict.
Trump also acknowledged that higher gasoline prices had affected American households and contributed to voter dissatisfaction.
However, he maintained that the military campaign had been justified and said he would make the same decision again.
The President described Vance's social media post as good and said he was already familiar with the Vice President's views on the conflict.
The differing emphasis in their remarks drew attention to the administration's internal debate over the war and its political consequences.
𝗜𝗿𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁
Iranian officials have portrayed the Republican defeat as evidence of growing opposition among American voters to the military campaign.
On Wednesday, Ghalibaf welcomed the election outcome, arguing that voters had rejected both the human and economic costs of the conflict.
"Conscience or the cost of living, Americans said NO TO WAR, and we endorse this message," he wrote.
He also warned Washington against disregarding the electoral message and resuming large-scale military operations against Iran.
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei separately said Tehran did not expect a fundamental change in American policy regardless of which political party controlled Congress.
He warned that any renewed military aggression against Iran would provoke a broader response.
"Should such aggressions be repeated, its scope will become much wider," Khamenei was quoted as saying.
Iranian leaders have repeatedly accused Washington of pursuing policies that destabilise the region while imposing economic costs on American households.
𝗪𝗮𝗿 𝗱𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘂𝗽 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀
The United States and Israel launched military strikes against Iran on February 28, triggering a conflict that has continued to affect regional security and international energy markets.
The strikes killed Iran's then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, prompting retaliatory attacks by Tehran against American military facilities in the Gulf.
Iran also disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial maritime route for global oil supplies.
The resulting pressure on energy markets pushed up crude oil and fuel prices, adding to inflation and the cost-of-living concerns facing American households.
The conflict subsequently spread beyond Iran, with military operations involving Israel, Lebanon and Yemen further increasing regional instability.
Public dissatisfaction over the war and its economic consequences became a significant issue during the midterm election campaign.
The Republican losses have consequently intensified debate within Washington over the administration's military strategy and the prospects for ending the conflict.
𝗙𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
The political exchange came amid reports that Trump was considering further military action against Iran despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to reach an agreement.
American officials have indicated that options for renewed strikes remain under consideration, although no final decision has been announced.
Vance had earlier expressed cautious optimism about the possibility of a negotiated settlement, saying Washington and Tehran had held constructive discussions.
However, differences over Iran's nuclear programme and the conditions for a broader agreement have continued to complicate negotiations.
Israel has also pressed Washington to consider additional military measures against Iran, while regional governments have expressed concern that renewed hostilities could further destabilise the Middle East.
Against this backdrop, Ghalibaf's remarks highlighted Tehran's attempt to use the Republican electoral defeat to question the political sustainability of Trump's military strategy.
With Democrats set to control both chambers of Congress, the administration faces greater scrutiny over the conduct of the war, its economic consequences and the possibility of further military escalation.