'Nobody got hurt or killed for five months': Trump plays down Iran conflict

Iranian hardliners perceive President Donald Trump's recent midterm election losses as a sign of weakness for the United States, and are demanding he pay a heavier price for the country's ongoing war with Iran. The influential group of conservatives has ramped up their rhetoric, publicly insisting Washington should not be given any compromises in the ongoing negotiations.

Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned against "the slightest inclination towards submission," a warning hardliners interpret as directed at Iran's own negotiators. Trump acknowledged the war in Iran contributed to his party's midterm defeats, with Vice President JD Vance more bluntly stating the war was the reason they lost. These admissions have emboldened Iranian hardliners, who are celebrating Trump's midterm loss as a victory for Iran.

Conservative politicians and media outlets are portraying the loss as a boon for Tehran. A hardline outlet published a column calling for the US not to be given a "way out" before it "pays the price" for attacking Iran, warning that the only way to avoid war is to increase pressure on the US and energy prices. Iran's stalemate in the conflict, with little military action or diplomatic progress, has led to negotiations between Iranian and Qatari mediators.

Iranian leadership appears to see the recent election results as a vindication of its strategy against the US, making Tehran's demands for a deal tougher. Experts believe Trump's options are limited: he can either declare "mission accomplished" and end the war without concessions on Iran's nuclear program, or launch a major military operation to claim a position of strength.

However, given the election results, Iran is unlikely to offer any concessions, and instead insists the US take the first step before any deal materializes.