Iranian crowds burn Trump banner and officials celebrate Republican midterm losses

Summary

Hours after the US midterm election results delivered a crushing defeat for the Republican party, pro-regime crowds gathered in Tehran's Enghelab Square to set fire to a giant banner depicting Donald Trump, his vice-president JD Vance, the US envoy Steve Witkoff and the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Iranian officials have since issued defiant statements celebrating the Republican losses, portraying the results as a rejection of Trump's war against Iran. Some Iranians fear another full-scale war, while others are less sure, but both groups agree that repression at home will continue. Experts quoted by the South China Morning Post remain sceptical that the results will bring a quicker end to the conflict. They argue the results highlight how unpopular the war is and will weaken the Trump administration, forcing it to rethink its strategy, but leave the broader US position unchanged, making a protracted war far more likely than diplomatic talks.

Timeline

1. The Guardian

   6 Nov 2026, 12:00 UTCSource ↗

   Reports that hours after the US midterm results delivered a crushing defeat for the Republican party, pro-regime crowds in Tehran's Enghelab Square burned a giant banner of Trump, Vance, Witkoff and Netanyahu, and that Iranian officials celebrated the losses as a rejection of Trump's war against Iran.

2. South China Morning Post

   6 Nov 2026, 13:12 UTCSource ↗

   Reports that, as Republican losses highlight how unpopular the war in Iran is, experts remain sceptical that the election results will bring a quicker end to the conflict, arguing they will cripple the Trump administration but leave the broader US position unchanged, making a protracted war far more likely than diplomatic talks.