'Freed up or congressionally constrained': Is Trump more or less likely to resume war on Iran?

The Democrats secured a sweeping midterm election victory on Tuesday, but one critical question remains unresolved: is US President Donald Trump now more or less likely to resume the war on Iran with the election cycle over? Before the midterms, the US appeared to be on the verge of launching a new, wide-scale attack against Iran. The families of US diplomats were evacuated from the region, and additional US military assets flooded into the Middle East. Arab leaders issued cryptic warnings about a devastating new conflict. But the attack many diplomats and analysts expected around election day never materialised. In fact, Republicans are now blaming the Iran war, and even Israel, for their blistering defeat at the hands of the Democrats. Trump said on Wednesday that "it's largely true" the Iran war and high fuel prices tied to the conflict led to his party’s historic defeat. Read more: 'Freed up or congressionally constrained': Is Trump more or less likely to resume war on Iran? During a rally in Tehran's Enqelab Square, Iranians stand beneath an anti-US billboard depicting US President Donald Trump, on 4 November 2026 (Atta Kenare/AFP)