From Tehran to Tel Aviv, Democrats’ midterm triumph sparks Middle East reactions
Iranian officials responded gleefully to the Democrats’ sweeping victory in the Senate and House, while regional media highlighted Abdul El-Sayed’s election as the first Muslim American senator.
The Democratic Party’s historic victory in Tuesday’s US midterm elections drew strong reactions across the Middle East, with Iranian officials in particular casting it as a rejection of the US war against their country.
As of 12:30 p.m. EST on Wednesday, The Associated Press projected Democrats to have 54 seats in the Senate to 44 for the Republicans, as well as 229 Democrat seats and 139 Republican seats in the House.
The victory ends Republicans’ narrow majorities in both chambers and marks a major setback for President Donald Trump’s Middle East agenda. Democrats are expected to scrutinize war funding and US assistance to Israel more closely when the new Congress convenes in January.
Governments across the region are watching closely to gauge the impact.
