Trump’s Iran War Plans in Doubt After Midterm Blow as Qatar Pushes UN Inspectors Into Bombed Nuclear Sites
Democrats’ midterm victory has weakened Trump’s push for war with Iran, while Qatar mediates a plan to send UN inspectors to bombed nuclear sites and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The Republican Party's crushing defeat in the US midterm elections has thrown Washington's confrontation with Iran into doubt, even as Israel and the United States maintain the highest level of security coordination in preparation for a possible escalation [276952][281219]. Iranian officials celebrated the Republican losses as a rejection of Trump's war against Iran, with pro-regime crowds gathering in Tehran's Enghelab Square to set fire to a giant banner showing Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, US envoy Steve Witkoff, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu [281560]. But inside Iran, fear is growing that another full-scale war could still erupt, and officials and citizens alike agree that repression at home will continue [281560].
The election results exposed deep public opposition to the war in Iran and have put Washington's next moves under intense scrutiny [281219]. Democrats seized full control of Congress, a decisive shift that has reshaped the political landscape in Washington and raised questions about whether the outcome could speed up an end to the conflict [281219]. Experts remain skeptical, arguing that while the results will weaken the Trump administration and force it to rethink its strategy, they leave the broader US position unchanged — making a drawn-out war far more likely than diplomatic talks [281219].
Israel has finished preparations for a possible new confrontation with Iran, according to an Israeli newspaper report, which said the head of US Central Command presented President Trump with military options as Washington and Tehran continued negotiations [276085]. The report did not say what those options were or whether Trump made a decision [276085]. President Trump now faces a critical choice: end the war or return to it, as Iran says it wants a settlement "as soon as possible" even while both sides trade threats and keep diplomacy alive [277668].
Qatar, the lead mediator in the US-Iran conflict, is working to persuade Iran to allow United Nations nuclear weapons inspectors to visit its bombed nuclear sites, including locations holding the country's stockpile of highly enriched uranium [281483]. Under the Qatari plan, Iran would not have to commit to removing the stockpile from the country, and other options remain on the table, including reducing the uranium content by down-blending it [281483]. The plan could also lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil shipments [281483]. President Trump is still considering a new assault on Iran's nuclear sites, though those threats carry less weight after remarks by Vice President Vance [281483].
Washington has separately offered a reward of up to US$20 million for information about Iran's nuclear programme, including details on facilities, equipment and personnel such as scientists, with possible relocation for informants [281189]. The announcement came as Trump said Tehran wants to make a deal to end the war [281189].
Strong US backing for Israel may have hurt Republican candidates in the midterms, raising concerns in Israel about the future of ties between the two countries [281096]. For years, Israel relied on firm support from Republican lawmakers, but some in Israel now fear that backing became a political weakness for those candidates [281096]. The results delivered a serious blow to Netanyahu's government following a long series of setbacks, with anti-Israel sentiment growing in the United States and Israel appearing on the verge of losing its best friend [281063].
Oil prices rose on Friday, recovering from a steep drop earlier in the week after Democrats won control of the US midterm elections, unsettling energy traders who are now focused on whether the Middle East war might be nearing an end [280501]. China and Oman called for a full ceasefire between the United States and Iran, demanding that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz be restored immediately and urging Washington and Tehran to resume dialogue toward a "comprehensive agreement that includes the nuclear issue" [277312].