Iran hardliners demand US ‘pays the price’ before war ends, emboldened by GOP defeat - report

Supreme Leader of Iran, Mohamad Khamenei, has warned against any "slight inclination towards submission" in the ongoing war with the United States. Hardliners in Iran are using President Donald Trump's recent midterm defeat to push for a more aggressive stance in negotiations, demanding that the US "pays the price" for its actions in Iran. The hardliner outlet Raja News argues that the US should not be given any "way out" before it faces consequences for its attacks on Iran.

Following Trump's acknowledgment that the war contributed to Republican losses, Vice President Kamala Harris wrote on X that "the reason we lost is the war." Analysts suggest that the Iranian leadership views the recent election results as validation of their strategy against the US, and they see no reason to offer concessions on nuclear issues.

The conflict has reached a stalemate, with Qatari mediators attempting to facilitate dialogue between the two sides. Despite this, the US has carried out strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island over the past week, though both nations have downplayed the incidents. In a bid to maintain open communication, Trump stated that the US is considering whether to continue the war, expressing a preference for avoiding further destruction if possible.