Iran celebrates Trump’s election defeat as mediators push for deal to end war

US President Donald Trump revealed he will soon determine whether to recommence conflict with Iran or negotiate an accord following a meeting with his national security advisers. Growing unease in the region had prompted apprehensions that military actions against Iran could be reignited before the Tuesday midterm elections. The subsequent Republican electoral losses and recognition that the war's consequences had spurred Democratic gains created a window for de-escalation and negotiation.

However, at present, Mr Trump is weighing several possibilities. These include maintaining economic pressure on Iran, resuming assaults, or reaching a pact with the Iranian government, which may be emboldened by the midterm results. "We will make a decision," he stated to reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday. "Do we want to proceed further?

I'd prefer not to devastate the entire nation if it's not necessary, but perhaps I have to." Mr Trump reportedly convened his national security team to deliberate his options, according to Axios. Two US officials cited by the news outlet stated it marked Trump's first meeting with advisers since the election, as part of his routine intelligence briefing.

While no directive to launch military operations has been issued, officials are contemplating subsequent actions, as per Fox News. Iran has capitalized on Mr Trump's midterms setback as evidence that his war policy is failing, framing the Republicans' losses as a public rejection of the conflict. In a substantial post on X, Vice President JD Vance asserted that Republican voters voted for Democrats due to dissatisfaction with the conflict, the rising cost of living, and US backing of Israel.

The rhetoric of success has been coupled with explicit warnings of escalation. Iran has indicated it is preparing for additional attacks rather than presuming the US elections would lead to a diplomatic breakthrough. Nevertheless, mediation and diplomacy have persisted, with numerous regional diplomatic calls held on Thursday. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi engaged in separate phone conversations with the foreign ministers of the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan.

Qatari mediators also met with the White House and Tehran to discuss a draft proposal. Iran forwarded a nuclear proposal to the US via Qatar, which Iranian officials said Tehran would review once Washington addressed the regime's seven demands. The official added that the US was reviewing the proposal but did not provide further details.

Iran's senior security official, Mohsen Rezaei, stated during a visit to Russia on Thursday that Iran presented seven conditions to the Americans on diplomacy. Unless these conditions are met, Iran will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz or engage in negotiations. Iran has demanded the repeal of US sanctions, the release of frozen Iranian assets, and war reparations among other conditions, while Washington has asserted that nuclear issues must be part of any preliminary negotiations.

Rezaei, who has become a crucial figure in negotiations, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on Thursday. Rezaei informed Putin of a message from Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, and said Putin was prepared to assist in ending the war.