Iran’s leaders spent Wednesday telling the world that America’s midterm results were a vote against the war, while President Donald Trump said he would make the same decision again. Overnight into Thursday, Nov. 5, new reports of burning ships in and near the Strait of Hormuz showed how dangerous the waterway remains while Qatari mediators wait for answers on a new peace proposal.
The developments come one day after Democrats won control of both the House and Senate, an outcome that Iranian officials, U.S. lawmakers and the president himself all linked, in different ways, to the war that began Feb. 28, 2026.
What happened overnight
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said early Thursday that two oil tankers and a tugboat caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz, and that one tanker came to a halt after striking a mine, CBS News reported. Iran’s Fars news agency also claimed the IRGC navy used electronic warfare to take control of two U.S.-developed drones. Those claims have not been independently confirmed.
Separately, the UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO) said a tanker was hit by two unidentified projectiles about 50 nautical miles north of Madinat ash Shamal, on Qatar’s northern tip. The condition of the crew and the extent of any damage were not yet known, according to CBS.
These reports follow the IRGC’s claim on Wednesday that four tankers that used a route south of the strait hit mines and were still burning, which Upstormed News reported earlier this week. The U.S. has blockaded Iranian ports, and U.S. Central Command has said it helped Gulf countries export 1.5 billion barrels of oil through the strait since summer.
Tehran reads the election as a message
Iranian officials were quick to comment on the U.S. vote. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s parliament speaker and chief negotiator, posted on X that Americans had rejected the war and warned of serious consequences if Washington ignored that message. Mohsen Rezaei, Iran’s security chief, claimed Trump had suffered a strategic and political defeat, according to CBS and Gulf News.
Americans said NO TO WAR, and we endorse this message.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, on X, as reported by CBS News
A statement attributed to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei struck a harder tone, saying hopes of a change in U.S. policy were mistaken and warning that the war’s scope would widen if attacks were repeated. Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, said Iran was still seeking to resolve the crisis through dialogue and that no one would benefit from renewed war, Gulf News reported.
How Washington is responding
President Trump told Fox News that the war was part of the reason for Republican losses. “I think a part of it was Iran,” he said, while adding that people understood the importance of what he had done. Asked about further strikes, he left the door open either way. CBS reported that Trump agreed the war had largely hurt his party, citing short-term gas prices, but said he would make the same choice again.
Vice President JD Vance wrote on X that the war was the main reason Republicans lost, and Gulf News reported he favors reaching an agreement. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said the war must end and suggested Congress could use its power over funding to press for that. Axios, as cited by Gulf News, reported that CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent favor keeping the naval blockade in place.
On Wednesday, the Treasury Department also announced sanctions on a network it said helped Iran’s shadow fleet of tankers use false flags and fake certificates, CBS reported.
Where the peace talks stand
Indirect talks are continuing through Qatari, Pakistani and Saudi mediators. Reuters reported Tuesday that Qatari mediators expected feedback within 36 hours on a new proposal, according to CBS. Gulf News reported the Qatari draft outlines a three-day sequence of confidence-building steps meant to head off new fighting and restart direct talks. Iran wants the U.S. naval blockade lifted, sanctions eased and frozen funds released before it reopens Hormuz.
China’s Foreign Ministry said avoiding renewed hostilities is its top priority, and Beijing plans to send its Middle East envoy to Iran, Oman and Saudi Arabia later this month. Lebanon’s prime minister, Nawaf Salam, warned against dragging his country into a wider war.
Energy markets have been watching closely. Brent crude fell more than 8% on Wednesday to about $94 a barrel, its first drop below $100 since September, CBS reported. Gulf News put Brent near $93.63 early Thursday. Our earlier report explains why oil swings with each turn in the talks.
Why it matters for families
- Gas and heating costs: oil prices have dropped this week but remain far above pre-war levels, so any new attack on shipping could push prices back up.
- Military families: the USS Theodore Roosevelt strike group is heading toward the Middle East this week, Fox News reported, a reminder that many service members and their families are directly affected.
- Travel: Gulf News reported that Etihad extended flight suspensions to Riyadh and Dammam until Nov. 19. Travelers to the region should check with their airline.
What to watch next
The key questions are whether Iran answers the Qatari proposal, whether more ships are struck in the Gulf, and whether the White House chooses new strikes, a deal or continued economic pressure. A new Congress taking office in January could also change the debate over war powers and funding. Upstormed News will keep following this story.
Read more: U.S. Strikes Near Hormuz as Qatar-Led Iran Peace Talks Grind On
Do you think the election results will change the path toward a ceasefire with Iran?
Sources: CBS News, “Live Updates: Iran says U.S. election results show Americans reject war, as Trump says he’d do it again” (November 4-5, 2026); Gulf News, “Iran warns against war as Trump signals ‘heavy hit’ and tankers catch fire near Hormuz” (November 5, 2026); Fox News, “Trump threatens to ‘finish the job’ if Iran rejects nuclear deal as IRGC vows ‘united’ resistance” (November 4, 2026)
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