Trump's midterm loss opens a window for Iran diplomacy

On November 10, 2021, the US House of Representatives rejected an impeachment effort against Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, voting 211-204 to refer the matter to the Judiciary Committee instead of proceeding with an immediate floor vote. The resolution, introduced by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, accused Hegseth of various alleged abuses of power, including launching the Iran war without congressional approval, ignoring safeguards for civilian casualties, directing boat strikes in the Caribbean, and overseeing the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Massie was the sole Republican to vote against the measure, joining House Democrats. Meanwhile, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) unveiled a new underground "missile city," displaying ballistic and cruise missiles alongside their launch systems during the force's Aerospace Week. The facility's exact location and scale were not disclosed by Tasnim News Agency, which published images of the site.

In a separate development, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejected Iran's demand for war reparations, stating Tehran should instead pay compensation for destabilizing the region.