By Basant El-Faramawy
Iran has led international reactions to the Republican Party's projected defeat in the U.S. midterm elections, framing the outcome as a public rejection of President Donald Trump's Middle East policies. With Democrats projected to win control of both chambers of Congress, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the results showed Americans opposed to war.
Ghalibaf: 'Americans said NO TO WAR'
In a post on X, Ghalibaf wrote that voters had punished the Trump administration over the conflict and its economic consequences. "Conscience or the cost of living, Americans said NO TO WAR, and we endorse this message," he stated, warning that if the U.S. government betrays the public will, "it will learn our NO comes with a Nightmare."
Trump acknowledges war may have hurt Republicans
Trump himself acknowledged that the war with Iran may have contributed to his party's losses, though he refused personal blame. He claimed Republicans would have won "by a landslide" if his name had been on the ballot.
International media frames election as rebuke
Global coverage largely portrayed the results as a message to the president. French newspaper Le Monde described the election as a "stunning rebuke for Trump" and a "major blow" for a leader who held rallies nearly daily in the final month.
Markets react to Democratic victories in key states
Global markets dipped slightly on the Democrats' strong performance, reflecting investor concerns that tighter regulation could slow the U.S. AI infrastructure boom. The Financial Times highlighted Democratic wins in Texas and Ohio, major data-center hubs where governors control construction permits and zoning. Nasdaq 100 futures fell 0.7 percent, Japan's Nikkei dropped 2.7 percent, and South Korea's Kospi fell up to 4 percent. Asian technology stocks, including SoftBank, Samsung Electronics, and SK Hynix, also came under pressure.
Analysts suggest market overreaction
William Bratton, head of Asia-Pacific cash equity research at BNP Paribas, said Asia struggles to digest U.S. political risk and suggested the market had "overreacted."
