Iran stated that Americans said "NO TO WAR" regarding the midterms. Trump reportedly played down resuming military operations against Iran, while the U.S. has continued limited strikes, increased its armed presence in the region, and had the Pentagon draw up strike options.

The Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources, that disagreements over next steps regarding Iran have intensified within the US administration following midterm congressional elections. According to these sources, some officials are urging President Donald Trump to launch new strikes against Iran and then try to secure peace, while others believe he should stop and scale back the military operation.

President Trump has conceded that the Iran war cost Republicans dearly in the midterms. He now faces a choice between striking again, which is described as highly unpopular and unlikely to yield better military results, or negotiating a deal.

Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., stated that he is prioritizing Pentagon oversight in his campaign to reclaim the chairmanship of the House Armed Services Committee. He called for increased scrutiny of the Trump administration’s military operations abroad, troop deployments to American cities, and Department of Defense spending.