Day 250 | US-Iran standoff fuels fresh tensions

• Trump cited the war in Iran—specifically surging gas and oil prices—as a partial reason for Republican midterm losses
• He rejected the notion that the defeats were a referendum on his leadership, blaming poor candidate quality and his absence from the ballot.
• Trump confirmed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth remains secure, ruled out cabinet changes, and signaled plans to either negotiate with Democrats

US President Donald Trump acknowledged on Tuesday night that the ongoing war in Iran was partly responsible for widespread Republican defeats in the midterm elections, while insisting he does not regret launching the military offensive earlier this year.

"Iran was a piece of it," Trump told The Wall Street Journal in a telephone interview when questioned on whether the conflict played a role in the party's poor electoral performance.

Despite the war eroding his administration's approval ratings, dragging on for months, and prompting private complaints to aides regarding its persistent challenges, Trump dismissed any second thoughts over his decision.

"I don’t think about it. I did the right thing. I would have done it again," he stated.

Trump argued that the primary political damage arose from the economic fallout -specifically surges in energy costs- rather than the military campaign itself.

Spikes in gasoline and diesel prices driven by the conflict have generated significant frustration among American voters.

The US president rejected assessments that the election results served as a public repudiation of his presidency, even as Democrats notched victories in traditionally Republican strongholds such as Kansas, South Carolina, and Texas, alongside marked declines in his state-level polling numbers.

"It was a point in time, and I wasn’t on the ballot," Trump said. "The biggest issue is that I wasn’t on the ballot."

He disputed arguments that voter dissatisfaction stemmed from broader economic conditions or allegations of administration corruption, adding that he did not regret omitting the economy from his campaign trail speeches more frequently.

Addressing the leadership of the war effort, Trump affirmed that he has no intention of making personnel adjustments within his cabinet, voicing explicit confidence in US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. "I think he’s terrific actually," Trump said.

At the same time, Trump placed responsibility on the slate of contenders, stating that certain Republican candidates "could have been better."

"Some of them had a lot of flaws, and obviously they were not acceptable to the voters," he remarked, adding, "You know, you can only do so much."

Several losing candidates had received Trump’s direct backing, including Republican Senator Darline Graham of South Carolina and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who was defeated in his US Senate race by Democrat James Talarico.

Commenting on Graham and Paxton, Trump said: "I tried to help them. Darline worked very hard, they worked hard. But they both didn’t make it."

Trump did not dispute the legitimacy of Tuesday's election outcome. Looking ahead to governance with the incoming Congress, he expressed an intention to work alongside Democrats while warning that he remains prepared to deploy his presidential veto.

"I think we’ll work with the Democrats, and we’ll get along very well with them. If we don’t, we’ll be very tough on them, they’ll be very tough on us," he said. When asked specifically which Democratic lawmakers he anticipated working with, Trump did not offer names.

Reflecting on the night's losses, Trump concluded: "It’s just the way the ball bounces sometimes."

Hundreds of thousands of people took part in rallies across Iran on Wednesday to mark the anniversary of the 1979 takeover of the US Embassy in Tehran, an annual state-backed event known as the National Day of Fighting Global Arrogance.

Demonstrations were reported in more than 900 cities and towns, with the main gathering held along Taleghani Street outside the former US Embassy compound, which Iranian authorities refer to as the “Den of Espionage.”

Participants included school students, university students, families, and religious groups, carrying Iranian flags and banners opposing foreign intervention. Demonstrators also held placards criticizing Western policies and highlighting civilian casualties in recent regional conflicts.

The annual rallies commemorate November 4, 1979, when revolutionary students stormed the US Embassy following the overthrow of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who was backed by Washington.

The takeover triggered a 444-day hostage crisis, during which 52 Americans were held captive. The crisis led the United States to sever diplomatic relations with Iran in 1980, setting the stage for decades of strained relations between the two countries.

This year's anniversary comes amid continued tensions between Tehran and Washington, with Iranian officials using the occasion to reiterate their opposition to US influence and what they describe as foreign interference in the country's affairs.

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned on Wednesday that any further aggression from the United States would be met with an Iranian military reaction on a "far broader scale," pointing to recent operations in the Strait of Hormuz and strikes against US facilities across the region.

In an official address, Khamenei defended Tehran's strategic moves across the Persian Gulf, directly linking them to American military actions during what Iranian authorities describe as the "Third Imposed War."

"Iran's enforcement of control over the Strait of Hormuz and the destruction of American military bases in regional countries, while a reaction to the aggression and crimes of the US in the Third Imposed War, was also an initial jihad against arrogance on a regional scale," Khamenei said in a statement.

He warned that Tehran's operational scope would widen considerably should military confrontation persist. "In the event that these transgressions are repeated, it will take on far broader dimensions," he added.

The remarks come amid heightened regional tension, military posturing in critical maritime choke points, and ongoing friction between Tehran, Washington, and regional actors.

The Saudi General Directorate of Civil Defense activated an emergency alert for potential danger across the Jazan region on Wednesday before issuing an all-clear five minutes later.

The Saudi General Directorate of Civil Defense said on Wednesday that the potential danger across the Najran region has cleared, lifting an alert broadcast earlier via the National Early Warning Platform.

The Saudi General Directorate of Civil Defense has issued another urgent public advisory across the Najran region after activating the National Early Warning Platform in response to potential danger.

The Saudi General Directorate of Civil Defense said that the immediate threat across the Najran region has passed, following a brief emergency activation of the country early warning system.

The Saudi General Directorate of Civil Defense has broadcast an emergency alert across the Najran region via the National Early Warning Platform, warning citizens and residents of potential danger.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed on Wednesday that four oil tankers attempting to cross a restricted passage south of the Strait of Hormuz were destroyed after striking naval mines, adding that two other vessels had been intercepted.

In its 20th public notice, the IRGC said the four tankers were still burning following the explosions. It did not identify the vessels or provide further details about their ownership or the circumstances of the incidents.

The IRGC also claimed that its aerospace defense forces had shot down a US-made MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle over the Strait of Hormuz at 4:30 a.m. local time, describing it as the 56th drone brought down in what it called an operation using an advanced defense system.

The announcement comes amid heightened tensions around the strategic waterway, a critical route for global oil shipments, as Iran continues to assert restrictions on maritime traffic through the strait.

US President Donald Trump has said Washington has no immediate plans to launch strikes against Iran, telling the Financial Times that his administration appears to be getting “everything we want” from Tehran as indirect negotiations between the two sides continue.

Trump described his administration’s approach toward Iran as “brilliant,” while warning that the United States remains “locked and loaded” should military action become necessary.

He also confirmed that indirect talks with Tehran are ongoing, including discussions over Iran’s enriched uranium, a central sticking point in efforts to reach an agreement over the country's nuclear programme.

The president's remarks come amid a fragile standoff between Washington and Tehran following US military strikes and the imposition of a naval blockade that Trump says is putting pressure on Iran's economy. He also pointed to increased oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz as evidence that Washington's position is improving.

The comments signal a willingness to keep diplomatic channels open while maintaining the threat of further military action. They come as rising energy prices and the economic fallout from the conflict weigh on US voters during the midterm elections.

Saudi Arabia’s National Early Warning Platform has issued an emergency alert in Riyadh Province, warning residents of a potential danger and urging them to follow safety instructions issued by authorities.

The warning comes amid heightened regional security tensions and a series of emergency alerts across the Kingdom. On Nov. 2, Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched toward the country's southern region, according to the Saudi-led coalition, while early warnings were issued in several regions.

• Roughly six in 10 voters said Trump influenced their House vote, with opposition to him motivating many Democratic voters.
• About three-quarters of voters expressed dissatisfaction with the country's direction.
• The economy, cost of living and democracy emerged as major voting issues.

US President Donald Trump is heading into the 2026 midterm elections with a 38% approval rating, according to early exit polls reported by CBS News, potentially marking the lowest approval rating recorded for a US president in midterm election exit polling.

The figure is also lower than Trump's approval rating during his first term, pointing to continued dissatisfaction with his leadership as Republicans face voters in an election that could reshape control of Congress.

The exit poll also suggests that Trump is playing a significant role in voters' decisions, despite not appearing on the ballot himself. Roughly six in 10 voters said the president was a factor in their choice for the House of Representatives, with opposition to Trump largely driving those backing Democratic candidates, CBS reported.

The findings point to widespread dissatisfaction with the direction of the country. About three-quarters of voters said they were dissatisfied with its direction, while more expressed anger over the state of the country than in the 2024 election. Economic concerns, particularly the rising cost of living, featured prominently in voters' assessments.

According to CBS, voters were more than twice as likely to say their personal finances had worsened rather than improved. The economy ranked as the most important issue for voters, followed by the state of democracy, while concerns about government corruption also emerged as a major factor in their decisions.

The findings come amid months of declining approval ratings for Trump. A Reuters/Ipsos poll published on Nov. 2 put his approval at 32%, close to the record low of 31% recorded in October. The same survey found Democrats leading Republicans 46% to 38% on the generic congressional ballot, although the gap had narrowed from the previous week. 

The 2026 midterms are being closely watched as a referendum on Trump's presidency, with Republicans defending their congressional majorities. A Democratic takeover of either chamber would significantly complicate Trump's legislative agenda during the final two years of his term.

CBS noted that the exit poll results were preliminary and would continue to be updated as more data became available. The survey interviewed thousands of voters at polling locations on Election Day and included voters interviewed in the weeks leading up to the election.

Read more: Trump threatens legislative blockade if Democrats sweep midterms

A tanker was struck by two unidentified projectiles in the engine room northeast of Oman, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Wednesday.

UKMTO said it received a report of the incident 14 nautical miles northeast of Lima, Oman, after the vessel's Company Security Officer reported that the tanker had been hit by two unknown projectiles.

No casualties or environmental damage were reported, according to the maritime security agency.

UKMTO advised vessels transiting the area to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity as authorities investigate the incident.

The latest incident comes amid a series of attacks and security alerts involving commercial vessels across the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz. UKMTO has reported multiple ships struck by unidentified projectiles in recent weeks, including a tanker hit by two suspected limpet mines in the Strait of Hormuz on Oct. 30. The incidents have heightened concerns over maritime security along one of the world's most strategically important energy shipping routes.